An adult anchor worm can grow to about 3mm long. They attach to fish with hooks that penetrate the skin. If the point of penetration is damaged, an infective entry point for bacteria is created.
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Glossary
Koi Ailments
Cross infection occurs when two or more animals from different sources are put into contact with each other, allowing any infectious agents to be transmitted from one to the other.
A condition of the gills where they have been exposed to an environmental insult, causing the cells to proliferate abnormally and cause the gill lamellae to fuse together.
Equipment
An air pump moves a small quantity of air at high pressure and speed.
An external pump is not designed to run under water, and requires air circulation for cooling.
A flow meter is used to determine the exact gallonage for treatments and medications. It should be used when a pond is first being filled.
Solid plastic structure used to house, for example, a Koi pond
A vortex is a kind of settlement chamber added to an existing filtration system.
A series of cylinders containing specially impregnated cartridges that will remove chlorine, chloramines and other harmful tap additives.
Technical Koi Terms
Literally means ‘heat from outside’ and describes the fact that fish cannot control or regulate their body temperature. In older textbooks, the inability to control or regulate temperature was termed ‘poikilothermic’.
When water is agitated so that it is being circulated and repeatedly exposed to the air. It allows many pollutants to be reeled in the air in a gaseous form.
Hand-stripping is a procedure by which the milt (sperm) and eggs are manually removed from the Koi rather than being shed naturally during spawning. Hand-stripping involves gently massaging the ventral parts of the fish to expel the eggs and sperm which are then mixed together in a container to facilitate fertilisation. Hand-stripping requires care and skill and can seriously damage adult Koi if performed incorrectly. Seek expert instruction before attempting this delicate procedure.
A common carp of a large ornamental variety, originally bred in Japan
All the biochemical and physiological processes associated with normal body function such as growth, tissue repair and reproduction.
Common Chemical & Biological Terminology
A colourless gas with a characteristic pungent smell. It dissolves in water to give a strongly alkaline solution.
A term expressing general water hardness.
Nitrification cycle: here, a population of micro-organisms, known as the biomass, breaks down waste and removes toxins. The biomass should be regarded as a living organism that requires a) an adequate food source b) sufficient oxygen c) temperatures between 10°C – 40°C. Filter media should offer plenty of surface area and allow easy access of water through all parts of the filter. Disruptive chemicals should be avoided if at all possible.
Nitrite is formed when Nitrosomonas bacteria oxidise ammonia produced by fish and decomposing organic matter. Although it is less toxic than ammonia, elevated levels still present a threat to fish health.
This rare bacteria oxidises ammonia into nitrite.