The symptoms of fin rot in koi mainly include an opaque appearance on the edges of the fins. Subsequently, the membranes will fall off, exposing the fin rays, and the fin rays will start to split. In severe cases, the entire tail will rot and the bones will be exposed. The specific symptoms can be divided into the following stages:
Stage One: The fins or the tail start to change color, especially at the edges. The color change may appear as white, red or even black.
Stage Two: The edges of the fins show signs of wear and uneven jaggedness, and the infected parts start to die and fall off.
Stage Three: The entire fin or tail has already rotted, and the infection begins to invade the body. If not treated in time, it may lead to death.
Causes of Fin Rot
The main causes of fin rot in koi include:
Water Quality Problems: Long-term turbid water quality, excessive ammonia content, and the accumulation of nitrite can all deteriorate the living environment of koi, leading to the invasion of bacteria or fungi.
Traumatic Infection: Playful fighting among koi or collisions during transportation may cause injuries to the fins. If the wounds are not properly treated, it is easy to trigger bacterial infections.
Parasite Infection: The presence of parasites will weaken the constitution of koi, making them more vulnerable to attacks by bacteria or fungi.
Malnutrition: A long-term lack of necessary nutrients will lead to a decline in the physical condition of koi and weakened resistance, easily causing fin rot.
Treatment Methods
The methods for treating fin rot in koi include:
Medicated Bath Treatment: Drugs such as Furazolidone, Nitrofurazone powder, and Oxytetracycline can be used for medicated bath treatment. For example, put 3 to 5 tablets of Furazolidone in 100 kilograms of water and soak the sick fish for 30 minutes; or put 5 to 8 tablets of Oxytetracycline in 100 kilograms of water for soaking and disinfection.
Local Treatment: For severe cases of fin rot, scissors can be used to cut off the rotten parts of the tail fin and apply drugs such as Ethacridine Lactate.
Improving Water Quality: Regularly change the water, keep the water clean, and adding Japanese yellow powder and coarse salt will help prevent and treat fin rot.
Through the above methods, the symptoms of fin rot in koi can be effectively diagnosed and treated, helping koi to recover their health.