Just Venting

[Peg]

Well I have to say that after dealing with the same vet for 15 years I am very disappointed with the service I have received when it came to getting info for my Koi. Granted they do not deal with fish of any sort. I do appreciate that he would even think about it. I have had a file set up since July with them. Several times I’ve been in to drop of info about Koi and meds that I have spent many hours researching. I wanted to have a safety net so if the time came and I needed to treat my fish I would have access to it. Well its no net if I don’t even know if I can get it when I need it. Each time I’ve been in I get from the girls at the front desk “ I’ll pass this on to the vet and we will call you back”. I never hear a thing. I think he is looking at it, as “We won’t make any money off of this so why call back.” I made two trips this summer, a four-hour drive in one direction to learn how to put fish to sleep, scrape and scope and inject meds. I can tell they think I’m crazy. I wish if he were not at all interested he had said so in the first place. I could have spent my time trying to find a vet that was. We have 2 cats and 1 dog we take there faithfully. I don’t think he knows that. I have decided to call the vets and talk to the other vet that owns the office and express what I am feeling. They maybe fish to them but their family to us. Well I am frustrated, I needed to vent, so thanks for listening.

[Jackie Ramo]

Vent away. Vets and doctors can be extremely frustrating. After trying to get a few vets interested I have relied on myself and friends to treat them. I did find a vet in the city but she was across town and was willing to learn on my fish... but it proved too expensive in the long run to train her. As it was it cost 300.00 and she didn't know why my fish were dying. Tweet didn't like the trip in the trunk in a cooler either !rofl

Besides Peg, you are now better equipped to treat your fish than your vet in any case.

[Terri]

I agree with Jackie. Peg you've learned a lot over the past several months. There are means other than prescription meds which are available for sale from koi dealers or online sources.

I've been where you're at with vets, yes it's very very frustrating how they don't take you seriously or see it all as a money grab. I lucked out eventually, but still had to present my cases to him... he was initially quite interested/curious about fish care when I first approached him (with arm fulls of literature and photos) but now not so much... so I'm left on my own.

Trust is a huge thing for this type of relationship....

[Peg]

Thanks you two. This sight and the people here have been very helpfull over the past few months :grin:. You are right though I know I know more them my vet when it comes to koi. I am having a hard time locating anyone in this ares with koi. There out there, I just cant find them. Put up signs all over town this summer and nothing, not one phone call. Well I will just have to lean on all of you here for help and support. Its been good for me and my fish. Is it a good idea to treat the pond and fish with anything before the winter sets in. Some sort of perventitive (sp) treatment to be sure they are bug free? and if so what would I use that works at temps below 50. Sorry I missed the chat this week. I'm on afternoons and it bites :( :mad:

[Jackie Ramo]

Peg, prevention is a better way of dealing with fish illness. Good water and regular maintenance will be time well spent. A healthy non stressed fish can fight off most problems. Many problems are caused by over stocking, poor maintence or filtration which is often tied to overstocking not for pond size but for filter size.

Yesterday two of my large koi went to a new home. They lucked out and are going to an year round indoor pond. Its hard to part with pets, but this way I get to chose who goes and who stays rather than mom nature taking my favourites. I chose to rehome these fish as although my pond will hold them, my filtration will not safely hold them. I hope to keep my record of no fish losses running for several more years.

[Peg]

Well I think I'm on the right track then. 10% water changes every week. clean the filters in pond water at the same time and check the water #'s. Clean the crud off the bottom as needed and follow the temp guide for feeding. I plan on doing water changes for as long as possiable, but once every two weeks now. Overstocking should not be an issue yet. 5 fish- 2, 12-14 " and 3 -10" in 3500 gals. 2 pumps at 5600 gals an hour and mech/bio in both skimmer and falls. I shut down the water falls yesterday, it sucks from the bottom of the pond so I did not want to cool of the bottom pond water temp. May have been to early. Turned off the UV light as well. not sure really when it is a good time for that. Left the skimmmer filter running and the returns for that are 1/3 under water for current with a ventury. Turned off air pump. Plan on picking up a portable car storage shed this weekend and will try to get it up this weekend in between the rain down pours. I have some cold weather bio bugs I can add, not sure if thats a good idea or not.

[Jackie Ramo]

If you already bought them use them or if they will store properly wait till spring. Bio bugs don't die overwinter but they are slow to start up.

[Terri]

Luke impression (toned down ofcourse): Cold weather bio bugs.... What will 'they' think of next? cha-ching

:grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Terri, you know that they are not 'that' kind of bio bugs, just slug eaters and few other bugs. does no harm except to the wallet and truly, some AS ponds really really need them.