Emergency Procedures
Emergency Fish Kills
Let’s hope that it never happens to you. You walk out to feed the koi and goldfish. Many of them are floating on top, dead. Many more are in distress.
Emergency Steps
If your fish are dying — don’t panic. Follow these steps immediately:
- Perform water tests — ammonia / nitrites / pH / oxygen levels
- Make notes of live fish behavior
- Remove all dead fish
- Perform a 50% water change
- Remove plants and perform a salt treatment
Water Tests
It is very important to run water tests. The ammonia should be 0. So should the nitrites. pH should be between 6.8 and 8.0 though we’d prefer they be at 7.0 to 7.5.
Fish Behavior
Are they gulping for air? Are they swimming properly? Spiraling? We’ll also need to know what was done to the pond, if anything, that could attribute to the problem. Is there any film on the water or does the water feel strange?
Dispose of Dead Fish
Unless you’re willing to take the fish to a University for an autopsy, there’s nothing we can draw from a dead fish. Do note if the eyes look sunken, if there are any apparent ulcers, if the skin is peeling or if the fins are ragged. Get them out quickly. They will trash the water quality.
Perform a Water Change
Chances are something is wrong with the pond environment even if all water tests indicate no problem exists. It could be run-off or over-spray from insecticides or low dissolved oxygen levels in the pond. Either way, it does no harm to perform a water change. Do NOT forget to add de-chlorinator if you are using tap water which is most often treated with chlorine.
Perform a Salt Treatment
Non-iodized, pure salt is inexpensive and so effective! Once you have changed your water out put in 3 lbs. of non-iodized, mineral-free salt per 100 gallons of water. This will encourage the production of the fish’s protective slime layer by natural means. We do not recommend using any product that artificially produces a slime coat, especially during an emergency. It will coat the fish’s gills also taxing it’s ability to breathe.
Emergency First Aid Kit
Here’s what you should always have on hand just in case:
- Non-Iodized Salt
- De-chlorinator
- pH Test
- Ammonia Test
- Nitrite Test
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Parasite Pak
Symptoms, Indications and Action
Hanging out by water return:
Not enough aeration/parasites/ gill infestation. Add aeration/check gills for damage & disease/ check water parameters /Treat for Parasites
Gulping air from water’s surface:
Not enough aeration/parasites/gill infestation. Add aeration / check gills for damage & disease/check water parameters/Treat for Parasites
Hiding/alienating itself from others:
Clamped fins
Health problem is definite. Check fish for symptoms.
Flashing/rubbing against side or bottom
Parasites - Treat for Parasites.
Whites turning red/red streaks
Fish highly stressed/water parameters could be off. Perform water parameter tests
Not eating when it should be hungry
Health problem is definite Check fish for symptoms
Bloating/scales popping out/bulging eyes
Dropsy. Prognosis is death/separate if open sores exist/make him comfortable
Head hanging
Parasites/bacterial infection. Check fish for symptoms. Treat for Parasites.
Sores/ulcers/deteriorating fins/red mouth
Bacterial infection. Chemotherapy water treatments or antibiotic injections/feed antibiotic food.
Skin peeling/Oranda heads eaten away
pH crash or too high. Lower or raise pH & stabilize.
Let’s hope that it never happens to you. You walk out to feed the koi and goldfish. Many of them are floating on top, dead. Many more are in distress.
Emergency Steps
If your fish are dying — don’t panic. Follow these steps immediately:
- Perform water tests — ammonia / nitrites / pH / oxygen levels
- Make notes of live fish behavior
- Remove all dead fish
- Perform a 50% water change
- Remove plants and perform a salt treatment
Water Tests
It is very important to run water tests. The ammonia should be 0. So should the nitrites. pH should be between 6.8 and 8.0 though we’d prefer they be at 7.0 to 7.5.
Fish Behavior
Are they gulping for air? Are they swimming properly? Spiraling? We’ll also need to know what was done to the pond, if anything, that could attribute to the problem. Is there any film on the water or does the water feel strange?
Dispose of Dead Fish
Unless you’re willing to take the fish to a University for an autopsy, there’s nothing we can draw from a dead fish. Do note if the eyes look sunken, if there are any apparent ulcers, if the skin is peeling or if the fins are ragged. Get them out quickly. They will trash the water quality.
Perform a Water Change
Chances are something is wrong with the pond environment even if all water tests indicate no problem exists. It could be run-off or over-spray from insecticides or low dissolved oxygen levels in the pond. Either way, it does no harm to perform a water change. Do NOT forget to add de-chlorinator if you are using tap water which is most often treated with chlorine.
Perform a Salt Treatment
Non-iodized, pure salt is inexpensive and so effective! Once you have changed your water out put in 3 lbs. of non-iodized, mineral-free salt per 100 gallons of water. This will encourage the production of the fish’s protective slime layer by natural means. We do not recommend using any product that artificially produces a slime coat, especially during an emergency. It will coat the fish’s gills also taxing it’s ability to breathe.
Emergency First Aid Kit
Here’s what you should always have on hand just in case:
- Non-Iodized Salt
- De-chlorinator
- pH Test
- Ammonia Test
- Nitrite Test
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Parasite Pak
Symptoms, Indications and Action
Hanging out by water return:
Not enough aeration/parasites/ gill infestation. Add aeration/check gills for damage & disease/ check water parameters /Treat for Parasites
Gulping air from water’s surface:
Not enough aeration/parasites/gill infestation. Add aeration / check gills for damage & disease/check water parameters/Treat for Parasites
Hiding/alienating itself from others:
Clamped fins
Health problem is definite. Check fish for symptoms.
Flashing/rubbing against side or bottom
Parasites - Treat for Parasites.
Whites turning red/red streaks
Fish highly stressed/water parameters could be off. Perform water parameter tests
Not eating when it should be hungry
Health problem is definite Check fish for symptoms
Bloating/scales popping out/bulging eyes
Dropsy. Prognosis is death/separate if open sores exist/make him comfortable
Head hanging
Parasites/bacterial infection. Check fish for symptoms. Treat for Parasites.
Sores/ulcers/deteriorating fins/red mouth
Bacterial infection. Chemotherapy water treatments or antibiotic injections/feed antibiotic food.
Skin peeling/Oranda heads eaten away
pH crash or too high. Lower or raise pH & stabilize.
