I am in MOURNING!!!! Lost 21 kois!!

weidner so sorry to hear about the lost of your big boy....

Jan

Weidner

I am very so sorry for your loss. I have many questions.... please bear with me.

Typically the larger koi will be affected by the loss of oxygen before the smaller koi. How many gallons is your pond? I see that you have some foam in the picture you have posted - when was the picture taken? I am judging from the foliage it was sometime during the summer?

How many gallons do you have? Do you have a bottom drain? How do you keep the pond clean with 250/gph? Wondering what your normal routine is....how many gallons is your pond?

What are you doing to ward off the herons at this point? Also, with that many koi and goldies - I have to believe they are breeding all over the place - what are your thoughts in regards to the over population?

Weidner,
I feel bad you lost Brutus. Stuff happens. I don't feed my koi anything but high quality koi food. I have been tempted to give them some greens from my garden but was afraid to chance it I have read others give koi cereal but not me.

Your pond must be around 2,500 gals or more so you don't have fish overload. Now herons those buggers are a different story. They think they are spear fishermem.

Do you test your water for amonia, nitrites & nitrates, I learned the hardway amonia will knock them dead in no time. Clear water is not necessarily quality water. I see bubbles on your water so I'm guessing you have a waterfall that aerates water. Thats what I have plus a small fountain but I'm considering an aerator as here its so hot oxygen gets depleted faster. I do run a 3,500 GPH pump down inside a skimmer in both ponds. I've got a long stretch for water to get to waterfalls so I need it.

How old is your pond? I'm guessing if you had a fish that large it is a few years old. Sounds to me like Brutus and cheerios didn't get along. I've lost many fish for many different reasons so you are doing very well and hope you won't be discouraged.

I certainly appreciate you posting the info. about cheerios. Thank you.
Bonnie

I often feed my koi cheerios (not honey nut or any of the other flavors) just plain old cheerios. When the water gets cool, it seems to even be a better food than high protien foods. Cheerios and green peas have always been a safe bet when it's time to back off of the higher protein foods. I've never had a problem with either.
I'm suspecting a low oxygen level, due to the high temps and fish load, and not the cheerios. Here in Florida, where the temps are quite often higher than normal, we deal with a lot of low oxygen level issues. I'm sure it's much more rare in your area, but due to the odd weather you had this year, I think it may have snuck up on you.

(and Bonnie....) I'll be contacting you soon...not for your offer of labor...but just to hook up and spend an hour with your cheery little self! :)

I think there was an oxygen crash in Weidner's pond as well. I know looking back - there were times with my pond having oxygen crashes. My pond is quite a bit deeper and I don't have the fish load.

I am also wondering about the 'foam' on the pond. I know that can indicate problems with oxygen in the pond water. - http://www.pondcrisis.com/a_oxygen.html

When the pond water reaches the upper 80's to 90's, I have typically stopped feeding my fish - I know there was one summer, I contacted you MM, because I was worried about going without feeding my fish for a long period of time as my water temps were in the 90's for quite some time several summers ago.

MM,
My cheery little self would be glad to help you. Thats the least I can do in return for all the fish you have given me. Besides I get a kick out of building most anything.
I'm anxious for you to see blue boy/girl. Now I think its a girl because of the well rounded body and it really has grown. It's straight sided but still beautiful. You know I'm a butterfly lover at heart.
Got my back garden all tilled yesterday and now researching fence to keep rabbits out. Last year we lost everything to those little buggers. They are living in Charlies barn down in between those big roles of hay. In all our years of gardening here never had problems with them before. Go figure.
Tangerines are on tree and should be ripe around Jan.
I now have a pair of tufted titmous birds out on one feeder. They are cute little critters.

Finally figured out why we have rabbits and never before. Cat died. He used to lay in the garden and nothing ever went near there.
Anybody got a mean cat that would smack my dog enough to make her leave it alone. She loves to chase cats but old cat after a year straightened her out and they became BFF.

Bonnie - I am sure there are a number of ktties that could use a good home. ^_^

We have tried but when we brought them home they took one look at Sadie and took off and we never could find them. And thats not good. My dogs not mean but she wants to chase them and her rough way of playing scares them off. If a cat and dog are raised tog. from both being young then their fine. Maybe a fence will help I hope.

Bonnie

I used to feed the bunnies here. They got quite tame, but the dog from across the street killed them. I felt so badly - I often wondered if I had not fed them if they would have stayred more skiddish and would have lived longer. Although I enjoyed feeding them and getting close to them - I won't do that again.

I have a free kitty for you! It's a calico and lives (only for now) out on my deck. She's used to being around a fish pond and chases lizards!

My dog caught a baby bunny and all she did was bring it to me. Didn't hurt it which I thought was rare.

Mary,
We are trying to think of a way to keep Sadie away from a kitten until it gets used to being here and that isn't easy. Charlie loves cats so we don't want to see one aggrevated. Appreciate your thought. If we could find a cat that had been raised with a dog that would probably work.

Belle - How are you feeling? I am thinking you have more mobility now than you did.

Weidner - anything new on your pond?

Carolyn,
We are in las vegas for a College reunion so i will post when i get home. I am in pain a lot but i am taking heavier pain meds. I might go for acupuncture next month.

Belle

Belle

Win some for me! DH always comes back with more than we went with when it comes to the casinos. I wish I knew how he did it!

Have fun and a safe trip home. I am hoping your pain subsides soon.

Good morning,
Our Las Vegas trip was fun and there were 25 College friends and there husbands. We all decided to go to an Alaskan cruise in 2014.
there are 3 classmates who live in Vegas so we had lunch at there houses which was a lot of fun. It must have taken them days to prepare for the meals.
Few of them gamble but I don't, gave some money to a close friend for the slot machine and in few minutes it as gone. It was $30.00!!! I can think of few things I could have bought. LOL!!!

Some are heavy gamblers and lost thousands. Not Me!!

DH off course played golf 4 times so we did not even go watch shows, we had been to Vegas few times before. I was a passenger and had a good time just watching the men he played with. All good players!!

As far as my ankle, I went to see my surgeon last week and i graduated from my walking boot. Yayyy!!!! I am still in a lot of pain , takes pain med 3 times / day, PT is 2 times / week and doing a lot of stretching. I can not go to the range but not golf yet.

Hope your pond/ fish are problem free. Been busy helping bring plants into the garage. DH brings only few plants into the house.

Take care and may you have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Belle

Belle

You sound great and like you are well on your way to putting all of this nasty accident behind you. I am glad -

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.
BONNIE

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here.

Jan

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone too... I am back in the no fish boat! My fill valve stuck the other night and filled with city water... killed my fish! I will not replace until the spring. They were about 2 1/2 years old. It usually just fills a tiny bit at a time so the chlorine in it does not bother them but too much will kill them..... this happened before.... I usually watch carefully and notice if the water is looking too clear and add chlorine remover... not this time. I feel terrible for letting this happen to them. I usually keep the water turned off but forgot. My bad!

Don't be to harsh on yourself. We have all had mishaps and I'm sure I'm not over with them yet. Keeps us on our toes. When I think I've remembered to do all things right I seem to invent something I shouldn't do. Thats main reason I'll never have thousands of dollars tied up in fish. Too easy to loose them.
Take care and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Bonnie

I'm guilty of the "just going to top it off" syndrome of leaving the hose in the pond and fogetting about it....only to come back to a pond of dead fish.
I try to be much better about it and refuse to even start the hose until I've already set the alarm on my phone. Through the years I've gotten much better. I usually never lose fish to illness or disease, just my own carelessness. Maybe I can call my forgetful brain a fish disease? ;)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sounds like they got electrocuted

I keep looking at my little pond and miss my fish.. can't wait till spring to start over.... again!

Tammie,
Spring is just around the corner. You will be enjoying fish again soon. If all of mine died I would start over again.
We are determined. If you were closer I would certainly share some.
The Orlando koi show is coming up in March and my son Jeff is keyed up about cause we went last year and he is going to show some little ones this year. Last year was our first year and he won a ribbon on his showa which he has since traded off. His wife said he is adicted to fish. I think its wonderful. A person could have much worse habbits.
Vendors come from all over the US and Japan with fish so I find it very interesting. I think we are going all 3 days this year. Merry Mary enjoyed it too.
Think spring, Bonnie

I'm going to try and make it back again this year.....The last hour of the last day, I got a great deal on a filter system (almost half price, they didn't want to pack it and load it back up) It's a bead filter with the vortex back wash, and will go on my new pond, if I iever get it done.
Bonnie...I know I don't need to remind you about buying fish there! At least quarantine the heck out of any new ones!
Once my newer pond gets up and running, I'm getting rid of half of my fish. I am sooooo overcrowded right now, that it's diffucult to keep up with, mostly because without my big newer pond up and running, I'm running smaller ponds with little filters. Bonnie, some will go to you and Jeff if you want some.
I'm trying to get more organized about exactly what I want in my new pond. I tend to buy everything that's pretty, and that's just not working! I will go with only 1 or 2 lily colors....less fish of different varieties....separate my water iris colors....etc. I was always the kid who brought home every homeless kitten, and now that I live in a subdivision and not on a farm, I can't do that anymore!
Keep your fingers crossed for me, I tend to get weak the minute I walk into a nursery or pet store! sigh... :)

MM

I have both of those weaknesses as well. Anything that is pretty or any animals. My husband as tried to indicate to me no more cats for awhile, but...... not sure I can do that ^_^

Bonnie - would it be possible to send pictures of the koi show? I would love to go to one. (I did get your dmail, just have not had a chance to respond - but I will).

Looking forward to spring and my pond!

MM,
You aren't the only with those types of weakness. Heck, we could be a lot worse. According to my size pond and the amt. of fish in it now I have room for about 30 more. Also, all thats in old pond is 3 goldies and 1 oranda. You don't have to worry about me not quaranteeing new fish. Remember what happened to me after last koi show. Charlie suggested I move those 3 goldies & oranda to new pond and put any new fish by themselves in old pond. Makes sence to me.
Jeff and I and his boys are going to fish farm this Sat. for fish food and I don't intend to buy any fish. Just look. I will wait until you divide so they will have a good new home. Sounds like you really have a job ahead of you but just think how nice it will be when you get it all done.
I'm still feeding as water temps are good. Also did water quality check last week and all readings were great. Tomorrow while it is so warm I'm cleaning all filtration on both ponds. Since I bought a new pressure washer it doesn't take me anywhere near as long. Can't wait until we get that new table built for that purpose and potting table all in one. Will sure be handy.
Set out a new camilia and alamanda vine. Camelia is loaded with buds. Can't wait to see it in bloom.
Hawaii sunset vine is putting out new shoots. That I'm really babying. Still in pot so I can bring it inside as I'm sure cold snap will come in Feb.
Happy ponding and gardening to all.
Bonnie

I did something stupid today. i added city water to my pond , forgot to turn it off for 6 hours. My heart almost stopped when I realized the mistake, water all over the yard, DH sleeping from playing golf.There are 3 kois on there sides but still breathing. I added salt and baking soda as well as bottle of peroxide. I am help less!!! Remember I lost all those kios last summer!!!

It is already dark outside.

Do you think those 3 will die?

Belle

Belle

did you add a dechlorinator to the water?

Carolyn,

No I never add dechlorinator because I always turn it off in few minutes. Also I have a 4 foot falls and so the chlorine evaporates fast.

Belle

I would still run up to PetSmart (even Walmart) and immediately get some dechlorinator. The chlorine burns their gills, so no matter how much oxygen they have, they can't absorb it. The less there is in the water, the better! Use tons of oxygen. The salt is a great idea, because the chlorine has already burned their slime coat off of their skin, eyes, and gills. Be cautious of the peroxide for now. It can be a liquid abrasive for skin that already has no coat left on it.

Belle

I don't think the chemicals burn off that quickly - I could be wrong on that, but I think it takes some time.

I am thinking the chemicals in the water is where the problems are lying right now. You said the water was running for quite some time, so there may be more in the way of chemicals in the water than what you normally end up with.

I agree with MM - I would run to the pet store and get some dechlorinator and dose the pond.

It is already past 8 PM. I will go out with a flashlight to check on them.

Belle

Belle

I would keep a jar of the dry dechlor on hand as a 'just in case'. It has a long shelf life and is relatively inexpensive.

Typically we run water through a filter that removes chemicals, but we also don't have chloramines in our water. There are times where the water goes in right from the hose and not through the filter, so the dechlor helps.

One is gone so I took it out . The rests are slowly swimming. Off course it it is dark even with spot lights and a flash light. i will check again early AM.

thank you again.

Belle

Good morning,
Woke up few times during the night thinking about my kois. I am waiting for some light so i can check and also bag the one that expired. DH does not know and will not be sympathetic because it was negligence.
Scheduled to play golf today with DH and i am very excited . This will be my 5th game since the accident.

As far as my ankle, it is doing fine, achy sometimes especially when i had a lot to do. i do however take ultram couple of times a week otherwise tylenol every 6 hrs.works well.

Will keep in touch and I appreciate your time.

Belle

I think the crisis is over. Lost 2 big ones and it could have been worse. DH does not know!! Lesson learned!!1

I am going to buy dichlorinator today just in case it happens again.

Golf is cancelled, raining hard and it is in the 40's.

Have a good day!!

Belle