Hi Guys

My largest koi, over the last few days has been sitting at the bottom of the pond, and he will then turn and almost lay on his side. When I approach him, he will correct himself and straighten up. He seems vry lethargic, and slow to move.

None of the other koi are doing this, they are very still, but upright.

This Koi has not eaten over the last few days, I feed very little now as the temp is still cold.

I have 10 small baby koi (purchased at the show) and they are active, eat all the time.

Is my large koi on his way out?

Hi Ed

Not necessarily, what is your water temp? The other problem is he may have Costia, if I am correct, hanging head down is a sign of costia.

I suggest a scrape to see and then act accordingly. If in doubt call this gent he is rather clued up. Athol Ross 0822217063

Ed,

if the head is hanging down 45 deg. it is a sign of gill flukes.
The best is to take a skin scrape.

Hi, thanks for the responses so far, really appreciate it

The strange thing is that it is not the head that is laying at 45 degrees, it's the whole body. He goes to the bottom and then lays at almost 45 degrees and stays still.

He did jump out of the pond about 2 weeks ago and I put him back with alot of mud stuck on his side, it looks like he has some fine algae growing out of his right side, in between the scales....he looks a bit bent as well, the body seems stiff to his right.

Since the jump out, he has not seemed happy at all. The babies seem OK and they are active all the time. I always thought babies were the most vulnerable to parasite and disease infections.

I'll taken him to Loolilocks tomorrow and see what they say....

Thanks again

Hi Ed

Have a look at this.

http://www.koi4u.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:kinked-back&catid=4:case-studies&Itemid=19

It is from Pieter Odendaal's site. Maybe it will be helpful since it is only one Koi with a problem.

I had a problem like that before where my koi had a funny swimming pattern in the beginning and later on a kink and died when it became a 'U' shape after months

Ed,

You should have told the complete story from the start!!!

The Koi injured itself, and the “algae” on the side are ten to one fungi. If the fish injured its spine nothing can be done and it will die.

Now, I am certain that there are no parasites present!

"Curtain" what is that

J.E.P.O.M Shame