Tail Tube Damage

[Limey]

Mark am really rooting for you... this has been a very informative thread. Lessons there for me, not just in technique but attitude... looks like you and your koi are real fighters, you both deserve a good outcome!

[wallo69]

Hi Limey,

And the battle continues, with her off the food and not settled at all tonight. Signs of fungal infection again so I will have her out tomorrow night and into the hospital vat again, with PH and Acraflavin dose to try and hold back the opportunist infections.

Not over yet....

Mark

[Duncan]

hi mark


paint it with 1% malachite this will fend off the fungus

dont be afraid to run a low level PP every few days to take out back ground noise and help keep the wound clean

dunc

[koicarpus]

Mark I just wanted to appluad you in your fight to save this fish.
I bet sometimes you're afraid to look in the pond to see what state she's in next!!
Fingers crossed for the next couple of days.

Dave

[wallo69]

Dave you are spot on about how I feel at the minute....

On that note, and noting Duncs comment I shall have her out tomorrow and paint over with malachite.

Confession time though, I dosed the pond with Acriflavine (as against using the tank) tonight on the understanding this might help reduce fungal growth, as well as the antibacterial properties, so any comments on this slightly rash alternative treatment appreciated.

I would appreciate comments on the downside of this treatment if there are any, and as I run a trickle of 1000litres per day, when I can start feeding again as I guess this is going to knock the filters.

Mark

[Gazza]

Hi Mark,

Depending on the dose used and the type you will be OK as i have found that in the past its not all that good to be honest mate and note used it for years i would be doing a PP or CT as per Duncan's comments above.

[tomc]

Yep, apart from the pretty colour never found much use for it. That said, when I last tried it some 3 years back I'm guessing my bacterial count was off the chart so it was a bit of a moot point.

Just dilute it out, and then revert to CT if needs be.

Need to see some "healing" in the area furtherest away from the amputation.

Tom

[wallo69]

Thanks for the comments guys, and after seeing no improvement in pond, took her out again and banged her into the Hospital tank along with a PH acraflavin dose!

Along with the 0.6% salt I am giving her the isolation treatment to give her any chance to heal, as it looked like it was only going to go south in pond.

Still alive, and swimming about the tank and will check the condition of the damage at the weekend.

It feels like the end of the road now, she is either healing or confirming the big E is next.

Mark

[tomc]

Mark

If it's getting worse after amputation then I fear it is poor technique that is causing a spread of the infection.

I would simply remove any dead scales, squeeze any puss out, and then throw the koi back into the hospital tank. Don't apply or spread stuff around.

Keep the salt up, heat up, CT away.

Tom

[Gazza]

Hi Mark,

Depending how things are i agree with Tom i would go for it mate and have some good heat like 26c + and CT for three days at a good dose depending on your PH will depend how hard to hit it.

[wallo69]

Thanks Tom/Gazza, I will follow that plan, as with weather as it is the Vat is holding good temps, so will dose with CT today and see what another week in their does.

I shall clean up what I can, and post pics later just in case I am missing owt.

PH is still sat a 8 in the VAT as is the main pond despite a TDS of 90 and a KH no more than 2 - a current conundrum I face over the original construction of the pond I think (another thread there) but that means a harder CT dose possible - I shall remind myself of the dosing from Duncs book, but let me know if I can go any stronger.

Thanks again,

Mark

[Gazza]

Hi Mark,

Yes go for a stronger dose of CT and do the treatments on day 1,2 & 3 and with a bit of luck it may take the sting out of it.

[wallo69]

Hi Guys,

Sad to have to draw a line under this thread with tonights post that despite all the advice and effort over the last month she finally gave in today.

To be fair, she didnt seem as active when I checked on her last night, so its not a huge surprise, but disappointing to say the least.

Despite her not actually costing me any cash (Loyalty points paid for her in full a good few years ago) I was hoping I could prove my health skills were enough, and keep a decent ginrin showa alive in my pond!

Lessons certainly learnt - damage of this kind need decisive and quick action, move forward about 5 pages of this thread and bite the bullet, and take the tail off! When the koi is still fit enough to heal, with an immune system intact, and not after a repeated regimen of anesthetic and minor to major surgery, all of which reducing the odds again and again.

I still would welcome any other 'constructive criticism' or "why didnt you try this?" or "I would have done this" as this forum should be about learnings and avoiding repeated mistakes.

Lastly, thanks to you guys offering advice and support through the last month or so, in particular Simon who even came over to assist in treatment, so thanks again for your efforts, just wish I could have come out at the end with a miracle recovery!

Regards,

Mark

[Gazza]

Hi Mark,

Sorry to hear that mate and you've done your best which is all we can do and unfortunately you cant win em all.

[Graham.]

Mark sorry to hear this

This has been a very informative post and I hope will benefit others like it has me in this learning process.

Best regards
Graham