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I have a 500-gallon pond with a mix of 6 comets and shubunkins in it.

One of the comets has a bulge on one side of her abdomen, and is listing to one side just a little. She's been hanging out for the past few days in a shallow part of the pond, although she still swims reasonably well and does join the others at feeding time. (She's eating, but not as much as the others.) The bulge is only on one side, so I don't think it's dropsy. It's not huge, but it is noticible -- it makes her look a little bit lopsided.

I've had the fish about two months, and they're about 5 inches long. None of the others are having any problems. I'm wondering whether she has a tumor, but isn't she a bit young for something like that?


Anybody have any suggestions?



[span class="edited"][Edited by lmuha 2004-07-04 20:31][/span]

Koi,

Can we move this to the hospital forum? Maybe I'd get a better response there.

Thanks!

-- Laura M

Laura, how far back is the bulge? This sounds like a potential kidney problem. I would isolate somehow so that if it is bacterial, viral or parasitic, it doesn't get a chance to spread, especially if he expires and others start feeding on him.

Tumors are the next thought. I wouldn't rule out an internal hemorrhage of some sort either so try to look for blood pinpoints at the base of the fins, or what may look like a faint bruising on one side of his body. Both Bubba (my betta) and Peaches (one of my goldies) died within a day or two after they appeared to bulge on one side and peaches light color showed the bruising. She was bleeding internally and I believe it was septicemia. It could be early signs of dropsy too. I have learned that not all fish pinecone when they enter dropsy. Some barely show the raised scales and in a pond, this may be difficult to see. Look at the eyes for even slight bulging which would also point to fluid build up in the body.

If you can isolate him in a big tub of some sort, you can try some type of medicated koi food, like medi-koi, metro-med or both. These are expensive, but if I had koi or goldfish I would keep them on hand. In fact, I do have both for my goldie tank. The more I read up on waterborne medications, the less I believe in them. Oral is best next to injections.

You can find medicated feeds at PondRx.com (the site was down when I just checked).

Your other bet, is to contact a local vet and find out who in your area caters to koi and goldfish. They give injections to them after doing tests. Of course, this too is expensive. But people who have prized fish that cost , are sometimes willing to pay the buck, if they can.

In the end, I think you may find that he would be better off kept in a separate "hospice" where it is quiet and he can't be picked on, or to euthanize if he appears to be suffering. If that is a swollen kidney or tumor, there isn't much you can do. Ditto if it is a hemorrhagic infection. Even if that can be cured, the organ damage is often fatal.

You can also find Clove Oil at PondRx.com along with info on how to use it for euthanasia (or buy it at a vitamin store). If you do a search at KoiVet.com on Oil of Cloves you should find two links to read up on the stuff. Fish do react to it, but go calm in a matter of 15 seconds. It is used for anesthetic for surgery, and an overdose will kill them. However, it is best to followup with decapitation or freezing to be sure since they can come out of the deep sleep it puts them in.

Sorry Laura.


[span class="edited"][Edited by Cory_Di 2004-07-05 10:39][/span]