Simply Koi and More Koi

Hi Guys;

Well this year for have been a field day for bugs in unheated ponds with temps over many weeks even now in the low teens. So I posted a question have we seen more or less infections/problems this year and the general response was "about the same" so for unheated ponds we are having a long trial of our koi sitting in " the valley of death". Mine seem to be loving it eating well and growing a bio filters holding up well.

Dip cell counts for species (haven't done strain counts as they are expensive unless I have a problem) are about the same as last year in my unheated pond.

So is "aeromonas alley" a real problem or only for vulnerable fish in poorly kept ponds? The data on bug growth and fish immunity and temp is sound but does this only become a problem when we are not doing our jobs right i.e. healthy fish in well kept ponds don't have a problem?

Almost worth a vote, I recon this is one of those myths that grew out of to correct pieces of information (bug growth and fish immunity) getting merged over time and getting the wrong answer.

I am going to keep my heated ponds at 13+ as long as the cost of the heat pump doesn’t break the bank.

Peter

Peter,

I have long been a believer that "aeromonas alley" is a complete myth. I just don't buy that if you keep your pond in a specific temperature range then they will get sick and you'll get problems. Same as i don't believe you should skip through that range on the spring warm up as its bad to be at that temperature range for too long and the bad bugs will get em!

I have always heated my pond between 10-12deg C for 3 months over its winter (Start Jan - End March) and not seen any "spring losses" due to keeping koi at this temp.

I think you are onto the right thing with its about "how your koi go into winter and the condition of the pond & water" rather than anything else.

I hold another thought for those that don't want to / cannot justify heating their pond over winter... maybe worth fitting a heater IN CASE there are any problems in late autumn and a koi picks up a knock that cannot heal in cooler temps. Use the heater to boost till healing is COMPLETE only and then back off and go back to unheated as they would over winter. Puts the koi into better condition going into the cooler temps and if they couple this with excellent pond maintenance routines through the cold winter then hopefully they would see an improvement (if they ever needed one).

LakesideLad wrote:Hope no one objects to me bumping this up, not only a very informative and interesting read but also appropriate for this time of year.

Thanks to those that had written on the above.

Graham

Good man Graham

Matthew

Gazza wrote:Hi Dave,

Soaps i must admit i am lucky my wife is OK with the pond and doesn't mind wearing her coat indoors

Now there's an idea to be honest I'm lucky as she is as much interested in the pond as I am unfortunately I don't generally get a chance to feed them she always beats me to it.

I've raised it up to 12 after reading the posts.

Cheers guys

Observing my fish it is not just temp that determins their appetite but daylight hours which I am sure has benn discussed before. At 18 deg with the current daylight hours in the south they are only hungry early in the am and mid pm about 16:00......just an observation.

Peter

Hi Guys,

Yes the light does also pay a part i believe as i have a Metal Halide light above my pond and they love it this time of year..................its just the steam that comes of the pond which looks worse with the light