Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Quarantine

Have your quarantine tank ready for your new arrivals, the bigger the better. 100 to 500 gallon tanks are good for most koi depending on it’s size and the quantity you purchase.  If you are using an aquarium place a net over it as koi like to jump. If it came with a hood do not use it as your koi will jump and most likely scar it’s head. I have 2 with such dents. Remember it’s cheaper to quarantine a small tank Vs. your entire pond.

Fill your tank with de-chlorinated water. If you fill your tank from the tap make sure you place a de-chlorinator to rid the water of chlorine. If you can fill your tank with some of your pond water do so, providing the water is in good condition.

With the tank filled, hook up your filters ,air supply and heater. If you are planning on using an air pump with a air stone only then: DO PARTIAL WATER CHANGES EVERY 2-3 DAYS. Change out 25% of the water (remember to add de-chlorinator, salt and Melafix accordingly).

Crank your heater to around 72 to 78 degrees. This temperature will create an environment where parasites, bacteria, fungus, and viruses can break out. You want to do this to see if your koi has picked any of these in it’s travels so you can treat it accordingly. More importantly, this temperature is when you may see the effect of the Koi Herpes Virus. It is at this temperature that the virus becomes. I will touch More on that later!

We believe that it is a good idea to keep "feeder fish or tester fish" in a quarantine tank, as Koi do not like to be alone. Koi are gregarious and are happiest with company. This also helps to keep the new fish calm and secure in their new environment.

HOW TO QUARANTINE A NEW FISH

1) Once the fish has arrived to its new home, float the bag in the quarantine tank for 10 to 30 minutes for the fish to adjust to the new water temperature.

2) Open the bag and gently with your hands and release the fish into the water. DO NOT ALLOW THE WATER FROM THE BAG TO FLOW INTO YOUR QUARANTINE TANK. The bagged water is full of ammonia may be infected and nasty. If your koi look extremely exhausted, please open the bag and release them as soon as possible.

3) Add an antibiotic such as Melafix to the quarantine tank.

4) Float something in the tank or net the top, this is to prevent the fish jumping out.

5) Try not to feed your fish for two days to allow them to adjust to their new surroundings. Feeding is stressful for the fish and it won’t hurt them to go a day or two with out food.

6) On the 2nd day you can treat the tank with salt.  Add 3 pounds per 100 gallons. Salt is one the most useful treatments for koi.  Salt can be used to prevent nitrite poisoning, helps to minimize salt loss or over hydration in sick or injured koi, and can be  useful to kill parasites. Salt should be 100% pure containing no additives.

7) On the 3rd or 4th day treat the water with Supaverm or Prazi pond as a precautionary measure. CAUTION: Supaverm is highly effective for treating koi for flukes. However; it will annihilate all your goldfish, comets and shubunkins.

8) Test the water regularly for salt content, ammonia and nitrite. Ammonia should be ZERO. If you find Ammonia, use Ultimate.

9) Make sure you have enough aeration, adding an extra air stone will do no damage.

Test your water regularly.

Always monitor the behavior of your Koi carefully.

Assure that your filtration system is working correctly.

Do not unnecessarily handle or disturb your fish in quarantine, they are there to adjust, relax and recuperate.

Watch for the fish rubbing against the sides, this could be an indication of the fluke parasite, also for any sores that appear or red markings.

Quarantine is a MUST because of the probability of diseases and parasites breaking out. BUT in addition ... be sure to use your own pond water in the quarantine tank if at all possible. ...and to be extra safe ... test the water parameters in the quarantine tank as well as the water in your pond, and try to even them out (for a few days) ...prior to putting the fish in the pond. One way to do this is to slowly replace some of the water in the QT with pond water until it evens out.

A revelation which most of us don't even think about. pH balance. Let's think for a moment where these fish came from. "A different Pond Environment"! Where they may have different water parameters than we do. The most troublesome ones being ammonia and the pH!

Let's say that the pH in the other pond is at 7.4 and our is at 8.0. So they take some of their pond water, put it in a plastic bag and put the fish in it. (pH of the water in the bag is at 7.4) We take the fish home, float the bag in the pond to even out the water temperature ... then release the fish thinking that we've done everything right! But what just happened? The fish went from a pH environment of 7.4 to a pH environment of 8.0! OUCH! Do you see any difference between this and a pH Crash?

Not only were the fish stressed out from being chased in the other pond and all of the handling, but now we've added more stress by placing them in a different pH environment. Do your best to maintain a balance between the quarantine tank and your pond and you will enjoy your new koi for years to come.

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