I have notice blister like marks on the body of some of my bigger Koi. It looks like blisters in the mucus layer and seems to move around, I am also sure one will be able to rub this off. I have been told of keepers that have added 6% salt to the pond and it disappears. I believe that Sakai refers to this as a koi cold.

Anyone with more experience on this and an a alternative treatment as I would prefer not to add 200kgs of salt to my pond.
I have also experienced more Mucus on the head than normal.

Hi Bobby, can you send us some pics of the blisters?

I will see to take some pics tomorrow, but is not in the skin, its definitely on the surface. I would have done my head in if the skin was affected.

Bobby - as stated i think salt at 0.6% will clear your problems. Your other option will be Acriflavine or M&F. I beleive you have a fungus invection going on the heads of your koi - also refered to as Cotton Wool. The health experts may have a different opinion.

Hi Bobby, Johan Jacobs (Koibooi on Koi Bito) had the same problem in 2008 and he opened the blisters and treated with wound med and the problem disappeared. See http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/main-forum/8329-help-disease-3.html

It is probably due to the fluctuations of temperature in the Cape the past few days?

I would not stress too much and wait a few days to see what happens.

Admin wrote:

Hi Bobby, Johan Jacobs (Koibooi on Koi Bito) had the same problem in 2008 and he opened the blisters and treated with wound med and the problem disappeared. See http://www.koi-bito.com/forum/main-forum/8329-help-disease-3.html

It is probably due to the fluctuations of temperature in the Cape the past few days?

I would not stress too much and wait a few days to see what happens.

Hi Paul - although it's been hot and now cool the big deep ponds have been pretty stable. I've gone from 25.5 degrees to 23 degrees over a period of 4 weeks which is ok for the koi.

I think the blisters (I saw them on the weekend but said nothing) is an addition to the bad case of fungi Bobby has. Johan had the same thing also in 2008 and Christie treated his pond with Acrivlavine and although it was lime green for a few weeks the fungi cleared off the heads and all was good in time for the show. Personally I'm not too fond of adding chemicals to my pond and when I had fungi on my best showa a few weeks ago salt cleared it up for me. After that I discovered the other problem we encountered.

Hi Paul, I used the word blisters and I believe that is not the right description, a better word would be flaking.

Well Ernst your so and so Why did you not speak your mind, I will have to investigate the fungi issue further, Christie and I has discussed the excessive mucus on the head previously, but I will pursue all avenues.

Hi Ernst
To what I have read on the web and in the Koi health manual I do see a resemblance to cotton wool or any fungi. There is no damaged skin areas on any of my Koi. Well having said this I have not found any answers yet, so anything is possible. I will post some pictures tomorrow.

As said, a picture is worth a thousand words. If it's a fungus I'd rather use Malachite Green and not Acriflavine. I won't use M&F for a fungus, it's mainly meant for parasites. Malachite Green (on it's own) as a dip or topical treatment is brilliant for fungus treatment.

No idea, what it looks like. I couldnt find a decent picture. Just thought ill give this quote - maybe it helps. From what i have heard described above it sounds like dead mucus. This Cottonwool fungus looks hairy.

Quote :

Cottonwool Disease This is sometimes known as mouth fungus. Although associated with the head, this Koi health ailments can affect any part of the body.

It appears like a grayish film that steadily spreads and can become ulcerated. It is highly contagious and can be transferred by equipment or contact with diseased Koi.

It will rot the mouth parts away so must be treated with urgency once spotted. Treatment is by any of the antibacterial compounds now available.

Addition of salt to the pond water will greatly reduce the possibility of the disease which is most likely under dirty water conditions or by introduction of diseased Koi which are not subjected to quarantine periods before being placed into the pond.

http://www.koi-pond-guide.com/Koi-Health-Ailments.html

These are the only images i could find.

Some pics, I do not believe it's a fungus but let see what you think?

Ek sal nie dit as 'n fungus klas nie behalwe as dit net begin. Ek het al fungus gesien, dis wit partykeer effens groen en lyk baie slymerig en is dik.

Daai op die koppe van die vis lyk vir my net na 'n irritasie wat veroorsaak dat die kois meer mucus afsky.

Wat die irritasie is weet ek nie. Wat is die chloor level in die water? Wat is jou water se alkalinity?

Lyk vir my ook meer na irritasie as infeksie ... soos Wayne sê ... kyk na al jou water parameters.

Jy weet deesdae met hoe die munisipaliteite operate sien ek baie keer dat dinge skeefloop by hulle waterwerke en dan moer hulle sommer hoë volumes whatever in om die stelsel te purge. Die goed is gewoonlik darem mens vriendelik maar nie altyd so goed vir plant en dier nie.

Curious as to what would cause this, and how to treat. It also looks like not all fish are affected.

It could really be anything. Parasites, bacteria or something in the water.

One would have to eliminate each suspicion individualy. I know bobby had his fish inspected for parasites a few weeks ago and they where clean but im now wondering if it might be costia. They are very small and hard to see - one needs a 400x magnification to see them...Just a thought.

the parts in the link below that triggered my tought was
"Symptoms of infection include excess mucus production...and the skin can take on grey white opaqueness."

Read this section - http://www.absolute-koi.com/prod619.html

Hi Bobby

Geen twyfel van die kant af nie. Hoop net dit is lig soos wat ek ook n rukkie terug gehad het, gelukkig is dit gou weg. "Carpox" en veral as dit net op die rooi of swart voorkom.

Neville there is no treatment correct?

No unfortunately not but it will go away just dont scratch it or do anything.

It is a bit strange that we are getting it in this warm water usually it is asociated with colder water.

Daai is defnetief nie carpox nie. Carpox kom meestal op die vinne voor en vertoon as dik stukke kers was. Dis in elkegeval tewarm vir carpox nou, ons water sit nog in die 23-24'C omgewing en die visse sal dit nie nou op hulle ouderdom kry as hulle dit nie vroeer gehad het nie en nie sommer almal op die selfde tyd nie.

looks exactly the same as what my monster grass carp had. And it appears and then goes away again...quite quickly...do we know what causes it?

Hi Wayne

Vang maar die vis en bekyk hom met n vergrootglas.
Papilooma moet nie met carpox verwar word nie, alhoewel dit baie na verwant is kom dit gewoontlik op die vinne voor.
Ek kan nie verklaar hoekom dit in hierdie tempreture voorkom nie maar glo dat dit gou sal verdwyn, omdat dit so warm is.

N mens moet altyd voorbereid wees op die onmoontlike want dit gebeur tog.

Hi Adi

No they dont know what causes it and therefore there is just nothing one can do but hope it goes away quickly. I also get it now and again and when it is warm it goes quicker than in colder weather.
There are 2 types though Papilooma and carpox, Papilooma is the one that actualy sits on the fins carpox will spread itself on the fish body and its head area.
Fortunately it is harmless, it is just unsightly. It is one of the oldest deseases.
Actually funny that there is no medication yet.

Heres a document done on carp pox. It shows images with all the possiblities that it can possibly look like.
http://www.koiquest.co.uk/Cpox.pdf

I still dont think its carp pox or papillomas but i cant say what it is either...i am leaning towards costia as i said in my previouse post.

Hi Wayne

Obviously I am only seeing the foto. I think best is for you guys to bowl the fish and feel if this is lumpy or as I said look with a magnifying glass.
As for the temprature issue your post refers.

"The fact is that any event that causes the immune system to be impaired may trigger latent pox or make naïve fish susceptible to it"

so it can happen irrespective of temp.

Time will, tell lets see what happens, at least if it is carpox then Bobby need not stress too much as it is not serious. Lets just hope it goes away soon.

Nee Neville nie carpox, visse almal gister gevang en dit kom maklik af. Dit is soos skilfers en daar is niks op die vel self nie. Ek het gisternag lank op die web na Cotton wool, Fungi en Costia gekyk. Wel slegs die die feit dat Costia ook mucus aanval kon ek nie die ander eienskappe op my visse identifiseer nie, maar sal wel weer skraap neem om seker te maak. Visse is ook glad nie lusteloos en hang rond nie.

Two comments ex Koi Bito

Bobby it is truly called a koi cold, don't worry about it, it will go away. I've seen it & can't seem to find the pics to post.

I've never been certain what is "a cold" and what is the beginning signs of Hikkui. The "cold" goes away. Hikkui gets worse. ...I worry a lot.

I believe what you see is "a bad cold", not Hikkui. My koi sometimes get a similar haze as temperatures go down. I understand it is caused by microbes attacking the mucus coat. I seem to recall that there is a particular protozoa that predominates in causing the condition, but do not recall which one. It is temporary. The fish recover with no damage. The pigment is not affected, just the slime coat. It is most visible on the red pigment, but I believe the condition will also be seen elsewhere if the angle of the lighting is just right. I have been told that a similar appearance can be caused by excessive mucus produced in reaction to parasites.
I do not know if use of salt would do any real good. I would not salt.
Just my rambling guesses for whatever they are worth.

Wel ek gaan nog verder soek vir antwoorde aangesien dit baie lelik lyk, en soos reeds gese ook weer skraap doen.