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Having been bred from wild carp, they inherited the hardness of their lineage quite well, which results in a species of fish that is both beautiful and resilient. Even though these fish can handle a lot, they are quite healthy. However, fish get sick even when they are tough. Come along as we explore how to treat one of the most common koi diseases, koi pine cone disease, and how to prevent it. Koi Pine Cone Disease: What Is It? To begin with, Koi Pine Cone Disease isn't a disease. A set of symptoms that could indicate other health issues, some of which are very serious and potentially debilitating. Usually, pine cone disease is caused by tumors or other growths impeding normal bodily functions, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, or a secondary bacterial infection. Other things such as fluid retention or parasite presence can cause it, but it is generally attributed to these three factors. A bulging, almost extended eye is a characteristic of the disorder. As your fish's scales stand out from their body, they will appear similar to pine cones. It is critical to prevent or treat Koi pine cone disease as quickly as possible in order to prevent a larger-scale outbreak. Dropsy is one of the disorders that cause the disease, and has the potential to be extremely contagious, so preventing or treating it as soon as possible is key. What To Do If You Have Pine Cone Disease The first step in treating dropsy is to isolate and quarantine the affected koi. Taking this step will help to prevent any further spreading of whatever root cause is causing the pine-cone disease reaction in your pond or enclosure. Additionally, it will provide a safe place for your sick koi to recuperate and heal, increasing its chance of surviving and fully healing without the potential stress and injuries associated with being sick in a full pond. Following the quarantine, you should start raising the water temperature a bit. Keeping the surface temperature lower than the average koi pond will help kill bacteria. In addition, it prevents the spread of the disease. Keeping the water temperature within the range of the average koi fish is preferable to keeping it extremely hot. As well as increasing the oxygen level, you should also protect the quarantine area from contamination, since koi pine cone disease can make your koi hard to breathe and increase the toxic levels in their blood as a result of the swelling and retention on the kidneys and liver, which can exacerbated by the presence of the initial bacterial infection which often triggers dropsy. The last thing you need to do to keep your koi healthy is to start treating them with antibacterial, antibiotic drugs. Depending on your preferences, you can either inject or eat the substance. Choose the right option for your fish with the help of your veterinarian. It is simply a matter of ensuring your fish get the correct dose every day at the right time once you have chosen the treatment vehicle and method. Taking the time to make your fish feel better again is worth it if they make a full recovery! Preventing Koi Pine Cone Disease A good way to combat pine-cone disease is to prevent it. The condition must be treated first if your fish already has it, but once it returns to health, you should ensure that it doesn't recur or happen to your other fish. It's really quite simple! First, monitor your water quality. A low water quality or an incorrect pH will allow bacteria to grow much more rapidly. In order for your pond to be a healthy ecosystem that can support fish life easily, you must ensure it has sufficient filtration and oxygenation. In addition, you should keep a testing kit on hand in case you need to adjust things with your koi fish. Is Pine Cone Disease Deadly? If your fish shows physical symptoms of pine-cone disease after reaching the point of physical recognition, it is usually too late to act. Due to their excessive damage to their bodies, especially to their livers and kidneys, many vets actually recommend euthanizing the fish humanely. Furthermore, they can experience brain damage and toxicities, leading to major health issues later in life, such as becoming more susceptible to other illnesses. Depending on how early http://www.grandkoi.com/shop/ catch the disease, your fish may be able to recover, but if it seems too late, it may be best to have it euthanized at the vets office or euthanize it yourself. It is often recommended to use clove oil and cold temperatures to lull the fish into a peaceful slumber, out of which it will pass away, but even this should be done under a vet's supervision, so as to ensure it is successful and safe for the fish. Keep in mind that even the very best of koi keepers experiences sudden illnesses sometimes. There is nothing you can do to prevent future dropsy issues unless you make a concerted effort to do so.
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