The question is, “How do you recognize the symptoms of fish disease and find a treatment?“ And it’s usually a question that most of us ask after our fish start having real problems.

Fish Disease Symptoms

Here’s a short list of some common fish diseases that can attack your fish.

This list is by no means complete.  But it gives some idea about what could be wrong if your fish start acting differently.

Getting good information is the first step toward having a great Koi fish pond. Take a look at “How To Build A Fish Pond” and then you need to get a copy of  “The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Healthy Koi” to find out how to build a pond from an expert.

CLICK HERE to get more information and your own copy of this unique book.

Online resources used to research this list include the following and lots of forums:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aquarium_diseases
http://www.daff.gov.au
http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/Fishing/guides/pondguide/pdf/disease.pdf

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The most important thing you need when learning how to raise koi, and the one thing you can’t do without, is good reliable information.  Koi are beautiful fish and anyone who wants to raise them needs to have the best information available.

Anyone who raises fish knows that a fish needs just three things:  Clean water, good food and protection from predators to survive.  If you have those things covered, everything else is just an enhancement to show them off and make them look better.  But sometimes the enhancements are what make a puddle of water look good and make your koi pond exceptional.

But it’s the quality of the information that can make the difference between success and failure.  This is true no matter what you are doing and research and planning is needed to make it all work together.

If you are raising koi fish or just thinking about a stocking a fish pond, there are three things you really need good information on:

1.  How to get and keep good water quality is the number one consideration to raising healthy, colorful and vibrant fish.  No matter what kind of fish it is, they can’t do well and survive very long in poor quality water.

There are several ways to get good healthy water and maintenance is required to keep the water clean and clear enough to make sure your fish stay healthy.  There are kinds of filters to remove wastes and systems to kill algae and organisms that make fish sick.  But, how do you know what you need?  And what kind of program do you need to keep your pond clean?  Good questions deserve good information.

2.  What kind of food do you feed your scaly pets.  fish will eat almost anything from plants to worms to commercially developed foods.  They really have no preference as long as it is food.  But just like other pets, if they become accustomed to commercially prepared food, they may resist changing to a new food.  But I have never know a koi or goldfish that would not snack on bugs, worms and vegetables.

Feeding schedules and quantities are important to training your fish and maintaining their health.  If you feed at the same time and place every day, koi will congregate at that area and compete for food.  They should be fed smaller amounts more often in warmer weather and less often when the weather turns cold.  You need good information to learn how much and how often to feed your fish.

3.  Know how to recognize when a fish is sick.  Some people become attached to their fish.  Even to the extent that they name them and even talk to them.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, because it also lets you learn what is normal for your fish.

Fish act abnormally when they get sick or are injured.  As you get to know your fish, you will be able to recognize when one of them is out of character.  Fish, especially koi, are social animals.  Watch your fish at feeding time and if one of them is not feeding or is staying away from the school, it could be an indicator of a problem.

These are just three of the things you need good information on when you are raising koi or any other kind of fish.  Good information is a key element to raising healthy koi with vibrant colors or any other kind of ornamental fish.

So, where do get good quality information?  You have several options, you can scour the internet looking for information or get The Beginner’s Guide To Raising Healthy Koi” and learn how to avoid pitfalls before you start keeping fish and help solve problems after you have them.

CLICK HERE and get your copy of “The Beginner’s Guide To Raising Healthy Koi” .

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A lot of people who see a pond in a yard, like the looks of the water feature it and wonder wha

Not a bad idea, fish are fairly easy to keep in a pond and are enjoyable to watch.

Reading the forums on the subject and tells us that the path to the perfect pond is often filled with errors and strewn with mistakes.  but, it doesn’t have to be that way with some thoughtful planning and research.

Learning how to do the job and getting good information is the first step to avoid making common and costly mistakes.  Koi and goldfish are common in backyard pond fish.   They grow very large in a pond and require more than just water. They require good water, food and sometimes the pond needs maintenance.

If this is your first time building a pond or keeping pond fish, then take heart. There are literally tons of information available online that can help guide you along the way. Some of it’s excellent and some of it’s not so great. At any rate, there are a few things that you will need to do before you get started.

Building A Pond

Here are five things I think you’ll need based on other DIY projects I’ve done:

1. Time – plenty of time, so be flexible with your deadlines. Making a fish pond is not something that can happen overnight. Like most other DIY projects, a good rule of thumb is to estimate how much time you think it will take, then double it. Things seldom go as planned and there will usually be changes made during the construction that will probably take more time.

2. A plan. Planning is the one thing that cannot be stressed enough. I have seen several ponds that were just a hole in the ground and then things are added to make the pond a good habitat for fish, such as foliage and shade.

Every fish pond should have a good filtration system to keep the water clean and maintain the quality of the water.  There should be plants that can provide shade and food and water treatment. It’s kinda like having a swimming pool.

It may be necessary to consult with a professional to make sure you get the right size filtration components and design for the size of your pond. Clean water is is really necessary to keeping healthy fish and be able to see them in the water.

3. Money is probably the most important thing you need to build your pond. Your plan should include all the equipment and utilities that can be installed while you are building the pond and supplies for keeping fish in it after it is built.

Go back to number 1 after you estimate your time and expenses, double those figures. That way, you might not have any surprises along the way and maybe even have some money left over. 

Only a few projects I’ve ever started didn’t cost more or take more time than I estimated.

4. Patience is one thing you should never, never run out of. Many things can cause delays while the pond is under construction and there can be many things that will some stress.  Sometimes stress can’t be avoided and you might have to say “Oh, well” and just keep going.

This is especially true if the pond is a DIY project. My experience with outdoor projects is that the weather seldom cooperates and if you have contractors , they may overbook and some may not show up when they are supposed to.

Be patient and do as much as you can by yourself.

5. A good sense of humor may keep you from loosing your mind. The perfect fish pond takes time, planning and patience to get the end result you have in mind. Focus on what you will achieve the end result and use the problems as an opportunity for learning and experience. There will probably be things that you have little control over and your sense of humor will help reduce your stress and keep you focused on what you are doing.

Remember this, A fish pond can be a wonderful addition to any yard, balcony or patio. They can be made in any size, shape or depth to fit any yard and keep any kind of fish. If you want a pond, then by all means, build one. But keep the five things in mind and you’ll have a successful project that  you can enjoy for a very long time.

CLICK HERE and get a copy of “The Beginner’s Guide To Raising Healthy Koi” for more great information on how to build a pond and keep healthy fish.

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Fish ponds are the premier aquarium for many people around the world. Pond fish, especially koi, come in a huge variety of colors and patterns and there’s a tremendous amount of pleasure and relaxation in owning a fish pond.

Fish ponds can be a great water feature.  Many people see a pond and envision how it would look in their own backyard.  However,  there is a lot that can go into it and building a fish pond build can be a very expensive project.

This fact keeps many people from ever enjoying a pond.  Some people though, have bitten the bullet and taken on a project.  If they want a pond, they’ll willingly take on the task of building a fish pond.  Especially if they can find ways to do it without breaking the bank.

A lot of DIY pond builders are successful, but many soon realize that it takes a lot of work to successfully build a pond.   If you want a pond without the expense, ask the question “How can I save money”?

Building a pond requires a lot time and money; however, if you are remotely handy with tools and some friends to help on weekends, a few simple suggestions should put you well on your way to owning your your very own fish pond.

What Kind of Fish Pond?

There’s no reason to believe that an in-ground pond is absolutely necessary. Consider building an above ground pond the same way you would build a wading pool that’s a couple of feet deep. The size of the pool, how much water it’ll hold and how many fish you want to put in it determines the cost.  You could buy a kit or design your own.  Your imagination is probably your best resource for designing a pond.  Follow these basic steps:

1. Determine how much big you want your pond to be.  As an example, a 10 feet by 12 feet pool that is two feet deep is a good size and makes demonstrating calculations easy.  10X12X2 = 240 cubic feet of pool.  Multiply this by 7.5 gallons and you end up with an 1800 gallon above ground pool that will support five or six fish easily.  If you want to make the pond deeper, it can easily be done by digging a hole and make part of the pond be below ground level.

2. Build the pond structure out of 4X6 or 6X6 timbers. You may have to cut some of them to make the joints, but this will allow you to overlay the joints and give the structure added strength to contain the pressure of the water. Drill holes through the timbers about a foot into the ground to hold the structure in place. You can also drill holes for the skimmer and water lines.  Water lines and valves are ordinary PVC and are very reasonably priced.

3. Find a suitable place to put a utility area with the pump, filter and water purifying equipment. I would put it in an out of the way spot that can be covered with a shelter or hidden with plants. Run the water lines from the pond structure and electrical conduit to the utility area. Make sure you seal the flanges used with the lines and I suggest a valve installed in each line to isolate the pond when you want to do any maintenance on the utilities.

4. Install a liner. It has to be a heavy gauge plastic liner. This is one area I would not go cheap on. The heavier, the better and I suggest at least 1/2 inch of styrofoam or vermiculite under the floor and sides of the liner to cushion it against imperfections in the ground and the sides of the timbers.

The liner should be at least 45 mils thick and (if possible) cover the entire area inside your pool without any seams. Finding the right koi pond liner can be as easy as going to amazon.com and selecting a liner with a warranty.

If the pond is not very big, another option to consider is a pond kit. But before you spend any money, find out what’s in the kit, compare prices and don’t spend any more than you have to get the right kit for your yard.

Do some online research and find out what a competitive price for a complete kit should be.  Finding the right koi pond kit that has everything in it you need to build a koi or garden pond could be as easy as heading down to your local hardware store or going online to do your shopping.

5. Fill the pond with water to just above the flanges and check for water leaks in the plumbing. If you find any, pump the water out and fix them. Then continue filling until the water level is about six inches below the top of the structure.

6. Start pumping the water, use any de-chlorination method you want and let the water circulate for several weeks to stabilize the temperature and quality before you put any fish into it.  This is also a good time to install plants in and around the pond to provide shade and food for your koi.

7.  Put your fish in the pond and enjoy.

8.  Start thinking about other things you can do.  This type of construction makes it easy to add waterfalls or fountains.  Let your imagination be your guide.

Getting the best information is the first step toward having a great Koi fish pond and information is available now.  The “The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Healthy Koi“ has the latest up-to-date information on building your pond and keeping your fish healthy, vibrant and happy.  Get a copy by clicking here now.

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Generally, koi and pond fish are tough creatures and have a high resistance to disease and illness.

Every fish keeper wants their fish to be disease free and will work hard to keep them that way.  But, the overall health of any fish is heavily dependent on two factors, water quality and diet.

If their environment or water is bad or they get a crappy diet, their immune system gets stressed and their resistance to disease can go way down and even the mightiest fish can get sick.

There are several types of bacteria, parasites, fungus, and other illnesses that are common to tropical fish as well as koi or pond fish.

How To Know Your Fish Is Sick

A sick fish will sometimes appear to be lethargic.  It might lay on the bottom,  swim on it’s side or with it’s head down.  There could be scales missing or unusual spots or what looks like spider webs on it.   If your fish is not acting normally, pay close attention, it may be sick

If you’re a veteran fish keeper, then you may have heard of some these fish diseases and know how to recognize them.  If you’re new to keeping fish, then you may not know about some of these diseases and illnesses. 

Either way, it’s great to get to know what the symptoms are so you can quickly recognize them and take appropriate action to protect your fish .

Pond Water Quality

It doesn’t take much of a stretch to believe that disease and water quality (or the lack of quality) go hand in hand.  The following are among the most important things you can do to help maintain your water quality. High-quality water will help prevent your koi from developing disease.

1.  Make sure that the nitrate level in your pond water is no more than 50 ppm (parts per million).

2.  Make sure you have no ammonia and nitrite in your pond.

3.  Avoid a population explosion in your pond.  The more fish you have, the more wastes you will have in the water.  Make sure you do not have too many fish in the water.  Did you know that fish actually grow faster in a pond with fewer fish in it?  Their bodies simply react to the larger areas of water and they grow faster.

Another good reason to limit the fish load is that you reduce competition for food and lower the stress levels on the fish during their feeding times.

4.  Install a good filtration system.  Water quality is next to godliness to a fish.  By keeping the water circulating properly, you maintain a higher level of quality with less chance of debris or bacteria build up. The absence of bad bacteria floating around means your koi are less likely to develop disease.  The use of a UV sterilizer or water clarifier helps eliminate much of the bacteria.

A Good Fish Diet

Don’t forget about the importance of diet on your fish’s health.   An entire chapter of the “The Beginner’s Guide To Raising Healthy Koi” has been devoted to diet, especially the affect it has on the koi’s stress levels and its overall health.

Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up when unpleasant things happen. It’s impossible to prevent all water-borne bacteria and other pathogens from sneaking into your koi pond.  So when you find something, don’t feel guilty.  In fact, most of the time you should feel pretty good about yourself for keeping the pond as bacteria-free as it is.

After all, consider this fact:  It’s possible for bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites to enter your pond’s environment through the air.  You’re never going to provide your koi with a completely sterile environment or one that promises the elimination of all potential disease.

Getting good information is the first step toward having a great Koi fish pond. Get all the information you need to keep koi fish healthy from the experts in the “The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Healthy Koi“.

CLICK HERE to get your own copy of this unique book.

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