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  1. #1
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Mythril's Avatar
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    Fussy Koi only likes the good stuff !

    Good morning people Hope it's as sunny and warm where you are as it is here at the moment.

    I've a couple of questions I'd like to ask with regards to one of my Koi.

    My 65cm Gin Rin Showa seems to have gone off it's food yet it will eat Prawns and Cockles fairly happily from hand. Anything floating, even pellets it's just turning it's nose up at. When it comes to feeding time, all of the fish are very excited and go mental for the food. The Showa will swim with the other fish happily but never comes to the surface anymore for food. Then once the commotion has died down a little, he'll go back to hiding under the Lilies. Seems to be his favourite corner right now.

    Now my thinking is he's behaving like a dog. He loves his treats and now only wants to eat those. Am I right in thinking this ? I am a little concerned as it's not really eaten normal food for over two weeks now.

    My other question is, is there anyone local to Thornton-Cleveleys that when passing could cast an eye at one of my Koi ? I've talked about it before on here but the two lumps on it's right side seem to be getting bigger. It's still eating like a horse but I'm concerned about the lumps. It's only an idea really otherwise I'll have to pay for Paul to come down from Oak Koi I would think and take a look.

    I've done water tests this morning and everything is spot on.

    PH: 8
    KH: 5
    Ammonia: 0
    NO2: Less than 0.5 on the colour chart (barely pink you can hardly see the difference from clear water)
    NO3: Less than 10mg on the colour chart (barely pink you can hardly see the difference from clear water)

    I use the Columbo test kit.

    Many thanks for your time guys and gals



  2. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Hi, could just be one of those things, and his appetite will return...the fact he is hanging around under the lilies is a worth a little consideration. Does he hang under them head down a little, is he generally less active until feeding time? If so I wonder whether he has some parasite or other...have you a microscope etc to take a scape and have a look? Assume all the other koi are fit and well, no flashing etc..? Cheers

  3. #3
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Nanasai Fishplanetkoi's Avatar
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    I have fish that will do that if I feed to much mussel and prawn, and leave all the pellets. The trouble is that I/we always give in and feed them even more treats because we just have to see them eat. You have to be strong and not feed the treat foods for a while and when hungry enough they will soon go back to eating pellets, if not then there may be a problem, that's my experience anyway. Trouble is, again in my experience, that even a koi that is not 100% and not eating will often take treats due to the added taste I imagine, but if you are sure they are not flashing, clamped or hanging in the water, then I don't think you should worry.

    The other thing you could try though, is only partially thaw the prawns, so that they float and then check if the fussy fish takes them off the surface.

  4. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion anne's Avatar
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    You sure its a him and not a her ?? .
    As ladies like the finer things in life .

  5. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Mythril's Avatar
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    None of the fish are showing signs of flashing and neither is the fish in question. I do have a microscope so I could whip him out and take a few scrapes to see. I'm fairly certain there's no bugs on him though.

    As for hanging in the water under or near the Lily's, his head is level with the rest of his body. No gasping at the top and no hanging his head low down. He does swim around but not as much as he use too. I've been out for over a week now during the day so he maybe swimming around more when I'm not here. I would describe his as just slowed right down. He usually was the first to fly across the pond for food.

  6. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Mythril's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by anne View Post
    You sure its a him and not a her ?? .
    As ladies like the finer things in life .
    When I bought the Koi a little while ago, I was assured it was a male. To my knowledge it is anyway.

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  8. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Mythril's Avatar
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    Well today he's finally taking some food off the top again. He's happily swimming around with the other Koi still. Don't you just hate it when one of your Koi goes off their food or looks ill. Worry, worry worry. Now I just need the sun to come out again...

  9. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Hassai Frich's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mythril View Post
    Well today he's finally taking some food off the top again. He's happily swimming around with the other Koi still. Don't you just hate it when one of your Koi goes off their food or looks ill. Worry, worry worry. Now I just need the sun to come out again...
    could be he doesnt like the strong sunlight. would explain why he hides under the lily's and goes for food on the bottom.

    i have a few fish that hides under the bridge all day, and once the sun is away they come out to play

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  11. #9
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I seem to remember BigMel on here had a problem with his fish a year or two back when he had been preparing them such lovely tasty food treats they all completely stopped taking koi pellets. He came to the conclusion he had just spoiled them rotten! They eventually went back to taking pellets again but had to go cold turkey off the mussels, prawns, blood worms, shrimps, lettuce, oranges, and whatever else they were getting before

  12. #10
    How old is the pond ?

    Here's my thoughts, the pond may still be maturing and although the usual tests may show as being okay, the overall chemistry and balance of the pond may not be quite right yet. On each of my ponds it's taken 2 - 3 years for each to fully mature and each time the pattern is the same. When the pond is new, the koi will eat when hungry or as you say when you throw in some tasty appealing food but not overly keen to gorge, when the pond has matured they will eat everything and anything at all times of day and night.

    Or they could have been spooked.

    Just my own thoughts and experiences.

 

 

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