Hello all, I’m new to the site and assisting a friend with koi fish. I’m their other daddy lol.
So, we have had a lot of problems tank raising these guys. Originally they were supposed to be pond fish. Right now they’re in tanks for the winter. But we have had a lot of trouble with the water quality. It’s been pretty bad and to make matters worse I got my friend five new koi to add onto his koi. So this little guy (see pics below) is Pumpkin. An adorable mutt. Pumpkin has had problems with fin clamp. When I met the breeder of koi to pick out some Christmas present koi for my friend I mentioned this to the breeder and he suggested putting hydrogen peroxide in as he thought it may be parasites. Now, pumpkin has a waxy sheen on his back by the dorsal fin and I noticed it around 4 weeks ago. I figured it was part of his charm. Now I am not so sure.
We have had frequent battles with water quality and an issue with an Asagi and an issue with a Kohaku and the help of many kind users of koiphen told me to divide the fish up due to overcrowding. I removed Pumpkin along with the Kohaku giving me problems and a small sanke and put the three in a 15 gallon tank. I have been learning more-and-more about koi over the last 72 hours and their diseases. While I was trying to help the Asagi I was reading up on Columnaris and a light went off in my head in regards to Pumpkin. I went to look at him and noticed the sanke nipping at him.
Prior to the addition of the tank mates back in the main tank Pumpkin would sometimes float up at an angle with his fins clamped. After I started adding hydrogen peroxide on December 17th and he stopped clamping his fins the next day and seemed normal. When I introduced his tank mates on Christmas Eve he was super excited and continued to behave normally. He has since been clamped since I moved him to the 15 gallon tank (Dec 27th). I have seen him on the bottom but he’s usually swimming in the middle of the tank.
Coupled with the photos of this adorable guy as well as what I’ve told you folks, what do you think? Columnaris? Fungus? Or is this just part of Pumpkin’s coating?
Thanks in advance for the love. (He’s a sweet boy and I’d love to see him grow up).