Sick fish

We added a couple of new fish last week, and were gone over the weekend with someone else feeding them. We came back last night to find one fish dying (now dead), and the others sluggish or hiding out of sight. None show any interest in food. Previously, they were just about jumping out of the pond when I came up; now they don't even appear. Any ideas for a tonic or some type of cure? Most are goldfish of various types; one koi.

how do they look?bloated? red streaks? scales standing out? Im not an expert but it could be a million thing--overspray from insectcides---ph crash or sharp rise? parasites bacterial?too much pelleted food can swell and rupture a fishes stomache? in a small pond, a wandering lab with freshly applied flea spray can spell trouble. need more info. sorry for you fish cheryl

The fish look normal, except for one fantail whose tail seems to have tiny white spots on it. This judgement is based on only a few of them, however, because most have stayed hidden. The ones I have seen swim slowly, or just lay in the water without moving. The ph is unchanged, as are the other water readings. I don't use any chemicals in the yard, and the neighbors who do are fairly far away, though I wouldn't rule this out because plants at the edge of the yard have been affected by herbicide drift from an application next door a few weeks ago. We have had a lot of mulberries falling into the pond, but this has happened every spring for four years. Between the skimmer box and me, we keep it fairly fruit-free. I've seen the occasional fish (in the past) take in a mulberry, but they spit them back out immediately.

Kneff. Go to www.fishdoctoronline.com/fishproblems.htm, you can get help there.
Sound like you may have ick... may be they were scared by something too, good luck
annabelle

Sad story--the new fish must have brought ich into the pond. Have buried all of our older large fish in the garden; younger ones are still struggling. The pond has been treated with salt after removing all of the plants, but I don't really hold a lot of hope for the other fish either. We'll be able to clear the infection but probably not save the fish. I have hesitated to use any of the stronger products (formalin, malachite green) that will kill the biological filter, and also harm other aquatic life, but if it turns out that we have to begin all over again I'm not sure what difference it will make.

ohhh Im so sorry-----------can you knet them?------its not much help but there are several broad cure remidies like wardley complet-------have you thought about netting them--giving them a double dose five minute dip and releasing them? just a thought?

I was told that with ich it doesn't do any good to treat the fish because the parasites are encapsulated in the fish's fins, gills, etc. and are impervious to treatment. The salt in the water will kill (I hope!) the swimming phase of the ich before it reinfects the same or other fish. The ich parasites eventually leave the fish's body to multiply on the bottom of the pond, then go into the swimming phase when they can be killed by salt or medicines. Your suggestion is a good one, though, because the dip could help take care of other things that might attack the weakened fish through the skin lesions left by the ich. Dipping as you suggest would also not harm the filter bacteria. The only trick will be catching them; there are many places in the pond to hide. What a mess. . . . Thank you for your help.

:( wish I could fix it for you....

I am so sorry about your fish. Fortunately, we've never had any diseases with our fish - yet. I have a dear friend that ordered fish from a very reputable company and the fish were diseased and killed all her fish. How sad, and I offer you my sympathy.

This is the fourth year for this pond, and the first time we've had disease. I hope you continue "in the clear." Thanks for the kind words.