Koi Health - Part 1 (prevention & how to spot a problem)

Anyone keeping koi, and in fact pond fish in general, will, at some point, encounter a health problem. Unfortunately it's inevitable. However, we can do a few simple things to minimise the frequency and seriousness of those problems.

In this video I discuss the old adage 'Prevention is better than cure', and what that means for koi keepers, and then go on to talk about how to spot the signs of an issue early. By knowing what to look for you can spot and treat a problem quickly and minimise the impact it has on your fish.

This is the first video in a three part series on koi health. Look out for part 2 when I talk about how to diagnose exactly what the problem is once you recognise that you have one. Part 3 will be all about treatment and how to cure any issues quickly and safely.

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[mykoiobsession]

Once again a very informative video in language even a layman can understand. Very much looking forward to the rest of the planned videos in this series. Cheers.

[johnkolstad]

I always love the fact that I can "like"👍your video before I even watch it!🍻

[andrewmason]

Brill video mate, and having a window in your koi pond is brilliant way for checking over your koi when they swim past. My new fish have been in for nearly two weeks now. They are all feeding by hand all really. I have been doing all the things what you have advised for setting up a new pond and fingers crossed 🤞 all my koi are really happy at the moment. And to say I have started the pond up a pit to late in the year. I test my water everyday and observe them every day to make sure they all are doing ok 👍

[LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

Massive subject. Will be good to see the videos related to health etc.
Thanks Darren

[petercousins]

An interesting video week given as a relatively new to koi it has given me plenty to thing about, I enjoyed it Thanks. I am looking forward to the next 2.

[carollycett]

Great Video spot on with the health . the way you keep your pond is lovely your fish look fab stay safe and well Thank you Carol koi pond

[JMacFlyFishing]

Awesome stuff Daz, keep up the great content and I will look forward to seeing your next video 📹
Take care 🐟 😎👍🏼

[georgecromar]

Thank you Mr Dazzle! Looking forward to the new videos you mentioned.

[zaidhabib]

Yay...the much awaited vid has been released. Thank you kind sir

[hukcoi]

Looking forward to this series just like the rest of your videos many thanks 👍

[perranwilliams]

Totally agree prevention is better, I upgraded my skimmer prefilter from a multi bay to a sieve so much better, also reduced numbers in the pond as growth was slow and not getting big (6000g) did count had 44 in pond reduced numbers down to 34 try and stick to around 30. So easy to suddenly be overstocked especially when a dealer has multi buy offers. Hoping good growth next year and no problems.

[TheGingerPondkeeper]

Interesting as always. I totally agree about observation and knowing your fish, it's a bit like recognising your babies different cries, for instance when my fish flick there's a clear difference when they do it after feeding (a lot) or the rare times they've done it for parasites.
PP is something that I must admit I've not used, but have doubts about - it appears a risky treatment for hobbists to use, and I haven't seen too much decent research into it's benefits, indeed one, that I think Martyn at Koi, Water, Plants and Rants showed, indicated that on balance it did no good or harm.
I think that's part of the problem with treatments in general, that there's not a ton of good, available research, and a lot of received wisdom and well-meaning, but contradictory, advice. Pond keepers are fairly desperate for advice when their fish are ill, and it's hard to find good, reliable, info. Do you trust manufacturers, shopkeepers and breeders, people you know socially, people off youtube? Heaven forbid ;) - it would be nice to have some really good independent sources.
For someone new-ish to it all like me, I tend to fall back on my work (I'm a LD nurse) which isn't always relevant, but does lend itself to some notions of best practice at least, while also making me question approaches if they don't have an evidence base behind them.
The only thing I do disagree a little with you on, is sinking food. I guess it depends somewhat on your fish and your set up, but if they're always quite nervous about feeding off the surface with you close by, and you have a reasonably clear pond, it's not a bad option. Equally, although carp feed throughout the water column, I'd argue they're better equiped to feed from the bottom, and, while health and obs are always important, meeting your fish's natural behavioural and confidence/security needs are important too. I get round this by putting a gopro in the pond quite regularly, which helps me keep an eye on them.
As I said always interesting, and I'll be looking forward to the next videos.

[johntasker]

Great video, thank you looking forward to seeing the next one 👍

[tinawilliams]

Very interesting and helpful, even though I have kept koi for over 40 years I still occasionally get caught out, i
Recently lost a beautiful purachina female during spawning activity, she was over 25 years old and very big
I had been watching and she seemed ok and was feeding later in the day and I assumed it was all done,
Sadly the next morning she was on the top dead, with not a scratch on her no missing scales but still quite a full belly,
I can only think that she died of exhaustion, just no other explanation, could find no parasites or any sign of gill problems
And I have had no problems with any of the other koi since. I would say to other koi keepers to take your advice and learn
Your koi’s habits it could save their lives .

[Tillygoat]

Great info as always Daz, toutch wood Iv not had a single problem this year so far.
And I put this down to following your guidelines plus Iv gone to saki hikari food now like you say give them the best food you can.
Thanks buddy

[matcrutch]

i've just switched to hikari wheatgerm upon your recomendation, and to be honest i think i will contiue to use it all year round. no raising of ammonia and the fish love it and my fish are fussy buggers. great vid dazzle.

[grahamparker]

Thanks for doing the video, they are very interesting to see as well Daz mate.

[MrSmithy]

Going to be a very handy series of videos

[Matsuba]

Hi buddy, Once again great video lots of interesting and helpful info. Shared it and looking forward to part 2! Hope your all ok mate take care!

[paulholt]

Well put together hope I do not experience any issues 😉 not a fan of using chemicals