Gill Tumor?- Added Pics.
I have a sick koi that's been acting "off" for a couple months. I've posted here recently about my planned "shotgun" approach because I don't have a microscope and didn't know what was wrong. I treated with Proform C only a couple months ago, but my product was dated and I was planning to try again. I have Prazi and Proform C on order. I was underfiltered when she started acting weird. Advantage 5 to a Matala 10 step bio back to the pond. Air to bottom drain and UV lite too. We have a 2000 gallon pond with 3 koi (20-22") and one goldfish. Anyway, we've sense added a sand and gravel filter (birdman style) and small trickle tower, water looks a lot better and the water parameters are at:
0 ammonia
0 nitrate (never can measure any)
0 nitrite
Carbonate hardness always runs around 70
My ph runs 8-8.2, I've checked morning and night and the difference is small.
HERE IS MY NEW FINDING! My female koi has what looks like two TUMORS on her gill, one side only. I stupidly didn't have a camera handy when we netted her....Frankly, I didn't have confidence that I'd be able to identify a gill problem if I saw it, but I was wrong. I've googled "koi gill tumor" images and did not see anything that looked just like what I saw on her but did see the comment below on PetMD.com.
For instance, gill tumor, which is caused by a thyroid problem, can be treated by placing the fish in water medicated with iodine.
These "tumors" were easy to see, pinkinsh and whitish and right next to each other, almost bulging from her gill plate. Pretty round and between 1/4 and 1/2 " in diameter.
I KNOW pics will be better and will try to post them later (my helper isn't here now) but can anyone offer any advice?
Last edited by Kathyme; 10-05-2014 at 04:35 PM.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Mohandas Ghandi