Wakin injured/sick?

[palsan]

Terri, (or anyone else) please help ....

All the fish I picked up last week are doing well, except for ... one of the females.

I put them in a separate tank for just over a week (I know you told me two weeks but the kids just couldn't wait any longer) then on Saturday morning into the pond they went.

Soon after they went into the pond the mating chase began. On Sunday afternoon I noticed one of the females (the one being chased the most) was lying on her side on top of a rock in very shallow water. I put her back in the water, the chasing continued, an hour later she was in the same spot.

This happened a few more times and so I took her out of the pond and isolated her in the separate small tank. This afternoon I put her back in the pond at feeding time. She seems to be swimming and eating normally. However, an hour later the chasing, bumping, grinding, etc. started again.

I noticed the scales on one side seem to be bruised? bloodied? diseased? Also, there are some black spots on her underside - third pic.

When the other fish bump into her - pushing her to the surface of the water - they always seem to push on the un-injured side and the injured side pushes up to the surface - second pic.

Notice the side the males(?) push the most seems to be ok - first pic.

What should I do?

p.s. My water test showed the following:
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
amonia 0.25
ph 8.8 (is this too alkaline?)

[Jackie Ramo]

Not the lovely Terri, to be sure, but I'd pull the fish and put her in own tank. She needs a rest and some real good water. A drop of iodine on the wound would not hurt (well it will sting!) to knock down any bacteria there.

Spawning can be tough on a gal.

[Terri]

Those boys won't leave her alone until she's dropped her eggs.

I agree with Jackie, she should be removed - put back in the QT and left there for healing. I'd salt it to .3% before adding her. Her time in the shallows on the rocks may be a contributing factor to the present sore on her side along with the boys pushing her about (this removes slim coat). Alternative would be to use a laundry basket with smallish holes, float it in the pond and place her inside so the boys can not get to her... but she needs the sore treated and should be monitored for possible infection (parasite and/or bacterial) so QT would be better.

When she has healed... drop the water level a little in the QT, add one or two males to the QT with some spawning media (plants?) and let them go to town.

[palsan]

Jackie and Terri,

Thanks for the quick responses. :thumbsup:

Good to know its "only" a sore. Should I be concerned about the black spots on her underside?

Any comments on the high ph level in the water?

[Jackie Ramo]

The black spots look like pigment in the picture. I'd not worry about the pH as long as it is stable there it is fine.

[Terri]

palsan, how are the wakin doing?

[palsan]

palsan, how are the wakin doing?

Generally good ... except for the females.
The one that started this thread has gone missing. After a couple of weeks of isolation I put her back in the water. Soon after, the boys started chasing her again - I haven't seen her since.

Last week I noticed another female very still in the water. Upon closer inspection I noticed something growing on her sides (algea?) and removed her from the pond. Looked at her this morning and I don't think she's going to make it.

By the end of the season I may be down to all males ... interesting since my house is otherwise full of girls. :HAHA:

[Terri]

Sorry to hear this news,... :(

Our heron is back, cleaning out the front water garden... at last it's found the pond it is ALLOWED to dine in .... geesh!

[Jackie Ramo]

Palsan sorry I missed your post. Sounds like Sap. MG is the cure for it if the fish is stll with you.

Terri through in some plant pots so the fish have a hiding chance

[palsan]

Palsan sorry I missed your post. Sounds like Sap. MG is the cure for it if the fish is stll with you.

What do you mean by "MG"?

[Jackie Ramo]

Malachite Green Proform C is a mix of formalin and MG or one can get straight MG. Most green meds contain it. Jungle etc.