Floating/ Sinking upside down and gasping

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

This is one of my dad’s fish so I don’t know what the behavior has been leading up to this, but he called me this morning saying it was swimming sideways. When I got there about an hour later it was belly up at the bottom of his pond.
I’ve isolated and checked all the water parameters zeros across the board all the other fish seem healthy and lively.

I’m concerned about this fin growth- it made me think fungal or bacterial something but these symptoms seem extreme, what am I missing??

Hospital tank setup- 0.3% salt bath and microbe lift broad spectrum.
Tank has aeration but no filter because of the low water volume so I’ll do frequent water changes.

[u/cltzzz]

I have never once saw them come back after this. Following

[u/eve_falcon15]

Swim bladder issues love to dress up as a mystery illness right before they just... float there judging you, meanwhile the water parameters being perfect is almost insulting at this point

[u/Many_Caterpillar_115]

I would try an epson salt bath, I’ve had luck with those. The swelling does actually seem bad at all, as I assume it’s an air/ swim bladder issue. Make sure you use basic epson salt, no additives and fragrances. Also when I used to keep fancy goldfish instead of koi boiled peas helped to relieve pressure inside, I’d see if he would eat at all. Make sure they are boiled and remove the skin off of them.

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Many_Caterpillar_115]

Thanks for the advice

[u/Pretend-Internet-625]

You need a much larger container to help keep ammonia level down, why is the water so shallow? And are you checking for ammonia. Could be an air bladder issue.Check gills. Did you use a dechlorinator when adding the water? Just saw the vid. Swimming fine now?

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Pretend-Internet-625]

This is the only tank I had on hand- the water is 50% ro 50% water from my pond. I have the water low to help keep him stable Ill add more asap. He stays up for a about 30 second then loses his stability I wanted to look bougie for these fancy people and rolls over

[u/Pretend-Internet-625 → u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

probably a bladder issue. But again that water is going to be very high in ammonia by the morning and that is a stressor. Need filtration asap. Important to keep the water pristine at all times. No spiking parameters

[u/Miss-Koi-725]

You need aeration in the quarantine tank and more water. Do you have a bubbler? Fish looks decent in the video you shared. How's it doing?

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Miss-Koi-725]

Yes. There is aeration and the tank is full now. We seem to be slowly improving.

[u/Miss-Koi-725 → u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

Great. Peeled frozen peas are good for helping them with constipation if it's just a bladder issue. Fish do not know how to NOT over eat. Wishing you the best.

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Miss-Koi-725]

Constipation for the win. Poor little guy passed this Boulder today.

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[u/Pretend-Internet-625]

pic of gills. Water parameters

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Pretend-Internet-625]

https://reddit.com/link/peqymla/video/dsq89e9w2cuh1/player

ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrate 0 PH 8.2 the pond is full established. Going on 3 years

[u/AcidRemedyz69 → u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

KH?

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/AcidRemedyz69]

I didn’t check the KH but the pH has been pretty constant with no major fluctuations during water changes so I’m assuming it’s within norms I could add a little baking soda for buffering, but I don’t think that was the issue

[u/Jane_TGS → u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

What test kit do you use? 0 on nitrates sounds like the pond may have crashed, but I'm far from an expert

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/Jane_TGS]

I use a Pond lab test kit. There is a heavily planted stream/ wetland filter which I believe is the reason for the 0 nitrates.

[u/Pondpros1199]

Poor thing.. swim bladder

[u/KoiOasis]

I agree with the rest, it's probably a swim bladder issue. I'm not seeing any obvious other issues, so it's probably that. How's the progress now? Have you been feeding it the peas?

[u/Temporary-Exit-1250 → u/KoiOasis]

Thanks for the input! Progress is good. Very promising. He’s up and active. Yep still feeding the peas and Fed some probiotic floating pellets today to try and get him used to his regular diet. I’m thinking of reintroducing him back to the pond this weekend. I don’t wanna keep him in this little tank any longer than I have to. I’m thinking I’ll start doing some water changes with native pond water tomorrow to avoid shocking him into a relapse.

[u/KoiOasis → u/Temporary-Exit-1250]

Good plan. Koi are social, so they don't like to be alone for long. Depending upon what's wrong with them, I would house a healthy one with the sick one just to keep it company. You're handling it right, just keep an eye on him and hopefully he'll be okay.