Missing scales on comets

[humBill]

Hi all - Well, my first question of the new season. You trained me well last
year, so I already checked water parameters, nonetheless here's the problem.
Some comets seem to be missing some scales. In some cases it's just one or
two here, a couple more there, maybe 10 total at random. In others there is
more missing and will sometimes look like a wide scratch or abrasion. Most
recently I just noticed one who has what appears to be a large scrape right
on his forehead (all the others are on their sides). I have shubunkins,
short fin and long fin comets, a few fantail goldfish and a few small koi.
Only the comets seem to have the 'problem', and most of them are the larger
(5-6") commons. Only about 10-15% are affected at all. No signs of fin rot.
I have seen a couple of great blue herons flying by, but I dont believe any
fish are missing and it seems unlikely the same fish would have been wounded
a number of times and most of the others unharmed. They are not skiddish.

The only three wild guesses I have are
1) one of our 4 cats does get down and nearly put his nose in the water
occasionally, watching the fish. However I have never observed it actually
swiping at them. I was also told cats would rarely put much of there paws
in the water. Unless they are more cautious, none of the slower swimming
fantails have any problem. Also as mentioned there are only a few places
that resemble a 'scratch'.
2) I do have some concrete bricks around the side which some of my plants
sit on, but by in large I don't think there are many narrow places for them
to have to squeeze through.
3) I have wondered about parasites, but thus far there are no bacterial
infections and I first notice many of these problems when the water was sub
feeding temperature.
So, any thoughts?
Thanxx
Bill

[Charles]

On Mon, 02 May 2005 19:01:04 GMT, "humBill"
> wrote:

>Hi all - Well, my first question of the new season. You trained me well last
>year, so I already checked water parameters, nonetheless here's the problem.
>Some comets seem to be missing some scales. In some cases it's just one or
>two here, a couple more there, maybe 10 total at random. In others there is
>more missing and will sometimes look like a wide scratch or abrasion. Most
>recently I just noticed one who has what appears to be a large scrape right
>on his forehead (all the others are on their sides). I have shubunkins,
>short fin and long fin comets, a few fantail goldfish and a few small koi.
>Only the comets seem to have the 'problem', and most of them are the larger
>(5-6") commons. Only about 10-15% are affected at all. No signs of fin rot.
>I have seen a couple of great blue herons flying by, but I dont believe any
>fish are missing and it seems unlikely the same fish would have been wounded
>a number of times and most of the others unharmed. They are not skiddish.
>
>The only three wild guesses I have are
>1) one of our 4 cats does get down and nearly put his nose in the water
>occasionally, watching the fish. However I have never observed it actually
>swiping at them. I was also told cats would rarely put much of there paws
>in the water. Unless they are more cautious, none of the slower swimming
>fantails have any problem. Also as mentioned there are only a few places
>that resemble a 'scratch'.
>2) I do have some concrete bricks around the side which some of my plants
>sit on, but by in large I don't think there are many narrow places for them
>to have to squeeze through.
>3) I have wondered about parasites, but thus far there are no bacterial
>infections and I first notice many of these problems when the water was sub
>feeding temperature.
>So, any thoughts?
>Thanxx
>Bill
>
>


Damage from spawning activity too close to the bricks.

The damage will most likely heal without after effects, except they
won't be show quality any more.

that's my guess, anyway.


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[humBill]

sounds like a possibilty - that would certainly account for mostly the same
breed and not all of the. 'show quality' - lol - I know what you mean, but
most of these were show quality 25 cent feeders to start with.
Thanxx
Bill

"Charles" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 02 May 2005 19:01:04 GMT, "humBill"
> > wrote:
>
>>Hi all - Well, my first question of the new season. You trained me well
>>last
>>year, so I already checked water parameters, nonetheless here's the
>>problem.
>>Some comets seem to be missing some scales. In some cases it's just one
>>or
>>two here, a couple more there, maybe 10 total at random. In others there
>>is
>>more missing and will sometimes look like a wide scratch or abrasion. Most
>>recently I just noticed one who has what appears to be a large scrape
>>right
>>on his forehead (all the others are on their sides). I have shubunkins,
>>short fin and long fin comets, a few fantail goldfish and a few small koi.
>>Only the comets seem to have the 'problem', and most of them are the
>>larger
>>(5-6") commons. Only about 10-15% are affected at all. No signs of fin
>>rot.
>>I have seen a couple of great blue herons flying by, but I dont believe
>>any
>>fish are missing and it seems unlikely the same fish would have been
>>wounded
>>a number of times and most of the others unharmed. They are not skiddish.
>>
>>The only three wild guesses I have are
>>1) one of our 4 cats does get down and nearly put his nose in the water
>>occasionally, watching the fish. However I have never observed it
>>actually
>>swiping at them. I was also told cats would rarely put much of there paws
>>in the water. Unless they are more cautious, none of the slower swimming
>>fantails have any problem. Also as mentioned there are only a few places
>>that resemble a 'scratch'.
>>2) I do have some concrete bricks around the side which some of my plants
>>sit on, but by in large I don't think there are many narrow places for
>>them
>>to have to squeeze through.
>>3) I have wondered about parasites, but thus far there are no bacterial
>>infections and I first notice many of these problems when the water was
>>sub
>>feeding temperature.
>>So, any thoughts?
>>Thanxx
>>Bill
>>
>>
>
>
> Damage from spawning activity too close to the bricks.
>
> The damage will most likely heal without after effects, except they
> won't be show quality any more.
>
> that's my guess, anyway.
>
>
> --
> Charles
>
> Does not play well with others.

[Reel McKoi]

"humBill" > wrote in message
.. .
> Hi all - Well, my first question of the new season. You trained me well
last
> year, so I already checked water parameters, nonetheless here's the
problem.
> Some comets seem to be missing some scales.
==========
Could it be they had a rough time spawning? Some of my koi look a bit "beat
up." I just added KoiZyme to the ponds yesterday.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Chet]

humBill wrote:

> Some comets seem to be missing some scales. In some cases it's just one or
> two here, a couple more there, maybe 10 total at random. In others there is
> more missing and will sometimes look like a wide scratch or abrasion. Most
> recently I just noticed one who has what appears to be a large scrape right
> on his forehead (all the others are on their sides). >

I agree with the others, it's spawning activity. I watched it with my
fish and took pics. (Of course, I got a ration from forum ppl...). I
added some pond salt at a 1% level to ease and speed the healing.

Wetbug

[humBill]

Thanxx - Will 1% levels kill submerged plants and tadpoles?
Bill

"Chet" > wrote in message
...
> humBill wrote:
>
>> Some comets seem to be missing some scales. In some cases it's just one
>> or two here, a couple more there, maybe 10 total at random. In others
>> there is more missing and will sometimes look like a wide scratch or
>> abrasion. Most recently I just noticed one who has what appears to be a
>> large scrape right on his forehead (all the others are on their sides).
>> >
>
> I agree with the others, it's spawning activity. I watched it with my fish
> and took pics. (Of course, I got a ration from forum ppl...). I added some
> pond salt at a 1% level to ease and speed the healing.
>
> Wetbug
>

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>Thanxx - Will 1% levels kill submerged plants and tadpoles?
>Bill

Not to mention the fish. The correct amount I hope the OP meant is 0.1% or
13 ounces of salt per 100 gallons. I've never had plants even notice this
amount. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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