What do you think this is?

[Rider]

Hey Guys. Had this guy for my 2nd year. He's always had this spots. Today I feel like they are bigger or more noticeable. Doesn't seem infected and has been doing his usual. My thought would be Karp pox but he hasn't infected anyone else. Even with the high temps of last summer, these didn't burn off. Any Ideas?

[MikeS]

Carp Pox

[mshill90]

Has he grown at all since you've had him?

I spoke to a koi farm owner about carp pox, and while many people on here will tell you it's very uncommon, I was told that it is more common than people think.

Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

I had a small koi that didn't grow in 3 years, and has what yours has all over it's body.. It didn't go away.. I tried tons of meds, different water temps etc etc.. it didn't work. He eventually died, but I am 100% sure it was carp pox. It lived with my other koi for 3 years, and none of the other koi caught it. But, it can be spread.

Hope you find out what it is.

[rainblood]

It seems like those waxy little bumps are prevalent this year...

[Rider]

He has grown alittle. Between the high temps of last year, so high that I had to stop feeding them and the cold winter temps, I imagine that theyre never going to go away. I'll just watch them for now. Kevin

[Russell Peters]

Has he grown at all since you've had him?

I spoke to a koi farm owner about carp pox, and while many people on here will tell you it's very uncommon, I was told that it is more common than people think.

Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

I had a small koi that didn't grow in 3 years, and has what yours has all over it's body.. It didn't go away.. I tried tons of meds, different water temps etc etc.. it didn't work. He eventually died, but I am 100% sure it was carp pox. It lived with my other koi for 3 years, and none of the other koi caught it. But, it can be spread.

Hope you find out what it is.

Without testing you can't possibly be 100% sure.

[Big Tancho]

looks like EPISTYLIS to me

[mshill90]

looks like EPISTYLIS to me

Definitely NOT Epistylis..

See image attached:

"These images are scans from the collection of Dr. Thomas L. Wellborn, Jr. The collection was donated to the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 1999."

[Big Tancho]

a skin scrape is needed, as the EPISTYLIS infection spreads ,its quite common to see ulceration caused by bacteria attacking the area where scales have fallen off.

[mshill90]

I'm 100% sure it's NOT epistylus.

Please explain why you think that this is epistylus.. This koi had no ulcers at all. And I don't see any missing scales.

[Big Tancho]

ok a koi in the stages of this infection show white patches on the skin and can develop in size to 5mm 0.2 inches or so but as they become larger they will spread and move and the skin will become redder the scales may lift and be lost as infection develops the only sure way is for skin scrape this takes a keen eye under a microscope.. long bell shapes with a handle connected to it .and in its contracted form it looks circular.. im no expert but the pic of the koi seems to me like the white patches look just like that to me..the pic of the bluegill looks like bacteria has set in on the advanced stages of scale loss...has a scrape been taken?????if so what does it show?just trying to help ....

[mshill90]

If this is epistylus, since it's bacterial, chances are it would affect a lot of other fish in the pond.

I have had koi with this.. had it for years, and it never progressed, or went away..

There are several other people here that are having the same issue, and has no other progressions, which is what makes me think it's not epistylus.

As the owner said himself "He's always had this spots". If it was epistylus, they should have progressed into ulcerations like you stated.

[Big Tancho]

i agree with that as the temp rises , the infection should increase ... has a scrape been examined ?

[cindy]

In the meantime.

The fish he's had for 2 years, no reddening or spreading, no other fish has. Its ugly but doesn't look like a problem Watch for any change, keep doing weekly water changes or if you can't stand it, you could try to remove. Wear gloves.

Personally I wouldn't do a thing yet.

[cindy]

Without testing you can't possibly be 100% sure.

Exactly

looks like EPISTYLIS to me

a skin scrape is needed, as the EPISTYLIS infection spreads ,its quite common to see ulceration caused by bacteria attacking the area where scales have fallen off.

The best we can do here is guess, not diagnose.

[Big Tancho]

i agree cindy, what got my eye was he said they are bigger more noticeable... i hope he does a scrape so we BOTH know.ill bet a dollar its epistylis....thats being fought off by the kois system...or held at bay by salt. thats just my opinion, like i said im no expert.

[Rider]

Hi guys, Sorry I hadnt checked back in awhile. Refinishing the kitchen got the better of me. Anyway, those white spots are gone now. Temps have come up into the high 60s. So I guess it was pox. I dont think i ever saw him without any spots for the time I have had him. My new problem is a tosai maksukawbakki with possible beginnings of mouthrot. I see alittle red internally on his bottom lip. Though he is eating/ swimming just fine. Looking at Reward as a possible backup med. Kevin