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Nice article from Dr Johnson of Koivet :
Saprolegnia (or sap) is a freshwater fungus which simply means it lives in fresh water environments and needs water to grow and reproduce. Sap can also be found in brackish water and moist soil. It is often referred to as a “cold water” fungus as it flourishes in colder water, but it lives well in a wide range of water temperatures extending from 37 deg F to 91 deg F (3 to 31 deg C). While it has been described also as a “mold”, sap is a genus of fungus, with the difference being a “mold” is a mass of fungi.
The following is a list of conditions that support the spread of sap:
Overcrowding – stress and too many organics in too little water
Handling – stress and removal of the mucous coat on the fish
Epidermal integrity – open wounds that provide direct access to tissue
Parasites and pathogens – parasites cause wounds that allow pathogens (like bacteria) to enter thetissue thus giving sap a change to take hold and stress
Pollution – stress and reduced water quality
Spawning – stress and physical damage
Water quality – stress and reduced physiological conditions
Water temperature changes – stress.
Treatment :
Malachite Green (MG): Hands down, this is the best treatment for all fungal problems, including sap. MG baths and dips work_ exceptionally well and one treatment will usually solve the problem (assuming any contributing causes are corrected as well). There are certain cautions that go with using MG, such as use only in cooler, well aerated water, so read the label carefully for instructions and precautions. MG is not recommended as a pond-wide treatment for sap as the concentration levels needed to kill off sap are too high for a pond-wide treatment to be effective. Such products as ProForm C, a Malachite Green-formalin combination can help reduce the incidence of sap and parasites in the water, but because the sap hyphae may be deeply embedded, the stronger dip or bath method is recommended. Caution: Malachite green is carcinogenic and has been banned for use on food fish. Use MG with great care.
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Another article from Dr. Johnson :
Branchiomyces is an aggressive gill fungus. It will kill fish by adulterating their gill tissue. The fungus compromises vascular supply to gill tissue and the affected areas die and slough out leaving gaping sockets in the gill arches. The fungus relies on high organic loads, high Nitrate levels, crowding, and HEAT to activate, and kill fish. It REQUIRES hot water to thrive and is most common in intensive conditions where fish are crowded, there are high organc loads and the water is WARM.
Cool water carries more oxygen and eases the metabolic furnace of the fish.
Increasing aeration WITHOUT increasing exertion to the fish (e.g. spraybars) may be life saving.
Controlling Branchiomyces: Formalin is very effective.
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Thank you for the articles. It tumbling down my understanding on how to treat "germ alike" symptoms. In my experience, although HEATING would be my last choice to handle such disease, but it still proven to be effectively cures those symptoms. Keep on your mind that I've no guts to use any chemical medication...
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What temperature to be said as cold and what temp is fall into hot category..?
Cold diseases mostly caused by fungus where the water temperature could be below 20 C due to environment / weather or even because no sun light through it.
What we shall do to avoid or battle to these fungus, such as white spot etc. is to ensure no dead spot water, ensure all water circulated and aerated. Also, add some anti fungus medicines such as methylene blue and similar will be useful, but just for illness fishes.
Hot diseases mostly are diseases due to outbreak of aeromonas sp. bacteria where water temperature warmer than usual such as season change. How ever, at elevated temperature up to 30C and above, bacteria growth will be limited.
How we depend our kois from these bacteria.? Only the water quality can safe them for sure. Sighs for illness is easily observe due to bacterial outbreak. So, what shall we do to prevent bacterial; listen the wise words says:
- keep your water healthy
- do not over feeding
- never over populate your pond
- built a good and well designed pond, otherwise we will fight to safe our fish along the road.... do you want it..?
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good articles, and we can learn from it
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More erratic movement - behavior in warmer water. Opposite in cold months. Looking at the profile of the bait should give you a general idea. Time on the water with them is best.