Short but sad post...Burt and Ernie
I love my koi fish, Burt and Ernie. I have had them for over 2 years. I raised them from the size of goldfish, they are now monsters of the pond in their own right.
They are sick. I found out that they have ICH also called White Spot. Unfortunately, it seems to be in the advanced stages as one of my koi is always near the surface of my pond and is having trouble breathing do to the parasite infestation that is in its gills.
I am now treating them with the right medication. But it will take about 2 weeks to kill the infestation off. I have been trying to get them healthy the last few weeks, it has been a battle.
Last week I lost a new fish we had put into the pond. He was our third fish, which we named Scitzo. He was a small baby koi, white with black spots. I found him one afternoon gasping for air having thrown himself to a shallow part of the pond. I immediately put him back into the water when I saw him. By that time he was breathing hard and not moving/swimming at all. I quickly put him in isolation with some fresh clean water. The breathing got slower and slower. Long story short, I was holding the little guy for 10 min while he died in my hands. It was pretty hard for me. The fact that a living creature died in my hands as I was trying to save it was heartbreaking. It was like a bad episode of ER... only for fish.
I do not know if the other koi will make it. After long research I have come to the conclusion that I should expect casualties from this stage of infestation. I think the white one (Ernie) may die.
I know they are not a cat, bird or dog. Lacking what some may call personality etc etc. But they are my friends. I care for them.
I am overwhelmingly depressed, stressed and sad at the situation. I have been losing sleep over it, and I can not stop watching them and keeping an eye to make sure I am doing all I can. If I lose these fish... I can't even explain how sad it will make me. So much so that I had to write a blog about it.
Fingers crossed with prayers.
-Misfit
They are sick. I found out that they have ICH also called White Spot. Unfortunately, it seems to be in the advanced stages as one of my koi is always near the surface of my pond and is having trouble breathing do to the parasite infestation that is in its gills.
I am now treating them with the right medication. But it will take about 2 weeks to kill the infestation off. I have been trying to get them healthy the last few weeks, it has been a battle.
Last week I lost a new fish we had put into the pond. He was our third fish, which we named Scitzo. He was a small baby koi, white with black spots. I found him one afternoon gasping for air having thrown himself to a shallow part of the pond. I immediately put him back into the water when I saw him. By that time he was breathing hard and not moving/swimming at all. I quickly put him in isolation with some fresh clean water. The breathing got slower and slower. Long story short, I was holding the little guy for 10 min while he died in my hands. It was pretty hard for me. The fact that a living creature died in my hands as I was trying to save it was heartbreaking. It was like a bad episode of ER... only for fish.
I do not know if the other koi will make it. After long research I have come to the conclusion that I should expect casualties from this stage of infestation. I think the white one (Ernie) may die.
I know they are not a cat, bird or dog. Lacking what some may call personality etc etc. But they are my friends. I care for them.
I am overwhelmingly depressed, stressed and sad at the situation. I have been losing sleep over it, and I can not stop watching them and keeping an eye to make sure I am doing all I can. If I lose these fish... I can't even explain how sad it will make me. So much so that I had to write a blog about it.
Fingers crossed with prayers.
-Misfit