Fish pond help required- please!

[sunshine1]

Hi Everyone,

I adopted a fish pond when I moved and need help!

I have four fantails, three koi and two other fish slim looking goldfish type fish in white/ red and orange.

I have noticed today that one of the fantails has a fungus on his head. What do i do?

I have trawled the net,all seems a bit complicated.And some what contradictory.

Also does anybody know if I should exchange the water? If so how much and how often? And what with?

The pond has a pump but I don't think it has a filter.It has quite a few plants oxygenators and lillies and iris type reeds.

Any help will be gratefully received.

Thanks Sunshine1 Ellie

[niloc]

Hi Sunshine

I'm no expert but I have had a pond for about 30 years and would advise against changing the water as you are likely to end up with masses of green algea. My first stop would be the local garden centre with fish to get a water test kit and some free advice. A growth could be specific to that one fish or it could infect all of them so locating a local fantail or goldfish breeder for advice might be cheaper than the next option - going to the vet.

Best of luck

Colin

[sunshine1]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the advice!

Hadn't thought about the vet option!

It's a pretty feature, so won't be filling it in!

Thanks again!

Sunshine1 ellie

[time2travel]

We have a large pond in our garden (4th pond we have had) and we have orfes,koi,fantails and various others - we have had fungus problems in the past and we have found that if you catch it early enough tetra medifin is very good you put in the pond and it will treat all the fish as where they rub around each other fungus can spread. it is in the spring when the water warms up that any diseases rear their ugly head. I put a dose in the pond early spring and then a preventative dose later on in the year - if you have a good aquatic shop they will be able to offer advice - my neighbour used to take them out of the pond treat them with various treatments but many used to die in isolation as they got stressed - we have lost the odd fish to disease but not often - we gain more than we lose !!!!
barbara

[sunshine1]

Hi Barbara,

Thanks we managed to get to a garden/fish center last weekend. We did a partial water change with barley extract to
help eradicate any new algae with tends to grow with new water and sunlight,and added a added a broad spectrum antibacterial /fungus treatment. And hovered out the pond and cleaned the pump. The center was really helpful! Didn't try and sell me anymore than I thought I needed.And the fantails are no longer swimming on the top! And look healthier!

I haven't had a pond before and I find It so
relaxing as it it is table level when I sit in my kitchen window. I have a mature garden and the birds love the pond to have a bath in.So far this year i have had Thrushes, Blackbirds, Starlings ( which I have always thought look like' Hells Angels' with their studded jackets and only appear by the thirty and create havoc with my fat balls!) I have two Robins, loads of sparrows,several collared doves,two rather large wood pigeons, a jenny Wren and just this week green finches and two blue tits have appeared.We live two minutes from the sea so feel quite honored!

I love seeing peoples postings of birds! Keep them Up!


Sunshine1 Ellie

[yamaha]

"and two blue tits have appeared."

Don't know much about birds or ponds, Ellie - but maybe it's a neighbour?!!

Mike

[glenw]

Apr 4, 2009 22:57:11 GMT sunshine1 said:

I love seeing peoples postings of birds! Keep them Up!


Sunshine1 Ellie

you might regret typing that Ellie, I have hundreds of bird photo's!! ( the feathered type yamaha!! ;D)

[sunshine1]

Hi Glen,

You must be handier than me with the camera! Time I have reset the settings the bird I want to capture has flown away!

I was going to retort to Yamaha's', ' Blue tits may be my neighbors' by saying it's probably down to north sea breeze! But thought better of it!'

Sunshine1 Ellie