I don't know if I can answer much if any of the questions that you require because I have a pond which is about 1200 gal. and mostly froze over right now. I will go ahead and ask the questions anyway. I was checking my aeriation pump yesterday and found one of my sarasa comets sucked up against it, I stopped the pump and found the fish still breathing but not moving much. I removed the fish from the pond in some water from the pond and brought it inside. The next morning changed the water and added salt as directed on container. The comet just floats in the tank and will only swim if touched, and will not eat ( tried the peas).

I know this is not alot of info but can anyone help? Please

Thanks

Are you feeding the fish in your pond because they cannot digest food properly at temps under 10C and this could cause floating due to indigestion.

What temp is the fish kept in now?

I would try to gradually increase the water temp over a couple of days until it is warm again approx 18C - 22C and see if the floatiness improves.

You could also dissolve half a teaspoon of epsom salt in half a glass of water then syringe a few milligrams into the fish's mouth, do this twice a day.

You may need someone else to hold the fish but if you stick only his head above water he should automatically open his mouth enabling you to squirt in the epsom solution.

The fish have not been fed for approx. 4 months while they hibernate other than what they might pick up and eat in the pond and from the plants.
The water temperature in the hospital tank now is about 68f. Do I need to keep changing the water in the hospital tank?

How large is the hospital tank, CrazyComet? How many gallons? Is there a filter, cycled or otherwise, on the tank?

A water change doesn't hurt, it will be good for the fish. Especially if the hospital tank doesn't have a filter on it. Do you have test kits for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH to perform daily?

Thanks for your comments everyone. I have had the water tested and everything is in the normal ranges so there is something outside of a chemical problem. I have lost about 40 comets in the last 4 to 5 days all of which are 5 inches plus in length. The local businesses that have been looking into this for me are at witts end because it is not obvious what the problem is or how to stop it. I have about 35 fish left and I fully expect them to all be dead by the end of the week. Just not being able to do anything is the worst thing of all.

Thanks for your support

crazy comet less

I am so sorry about your fish(es).

It is horrible when you feel helpless to save the fishes. I would think it too cold for anykind of parasite to be attacking them. Could it be any of the plants in the pond having an effect on them?

I am sure you thought about all of that before but just thought I would......... sometimes the most obvious. There isn't stray current in your pond anywhere do you think?? Maybe from the airation pump or if you have a heater?

Good luck with your fishes and your pond.

I wonder if any chemicals, heavy metals or pesticides could have leached into the pond? I'm sorry for your problems, I hope you don't loose them all, how depressing.

How are your remaining fish, CrazyComet?

I started with about 80 to 90 comets and now there is about 6 left, I am loosing about 2 a day now. The remaining fish act like they are ok but there fine one day and dead the next. I just don't know what to do about this. I don't know if I should pull the rest of them out of the pond and put them into a bin and try some how to save them.

At this point, yes, that is what I would be doing, Comet. It is horrible to loose fish like that without knowing what causes it, and I am with Annette here that something might have gotten into the pond. Pesticides, maybe, fertilizer, anything? A gardener was at your house, maybe? Neighbors thoughtlessly spraying something? I live in a quiet area and am surrounded by cotton fields on 3 sides. I am always watching out when the farmer comes around spraying stuff into his fields.

I would start fresh, with a bin or tank of some sort, and see how that goes. Do you have any spare filters laying around?

How is the problem now, CrazyComet?

I completely drained the pond yesturday, pressure washed it and refilled it with fresh clean water. There is still about 20 fish remaing which I am amazed at. They are now back in the pond so we will see if this hopefully takes care of whatever issue was killing all of the others.

Lets hope, yes, that this will be the end of it. I am glad that you still have 20 fish - I thought for sure that you'd post back that you lost a whole lot more. Any ideas if the pesticides could have been a possibility?

I don't think it was any pesticides, because the pond is kind of isolated from any area that it is used, but who knows anything is possible I guess. I wonder if a bird dropping could have caused this? There is always birds bathing in the stream which leads to the pond. I just hope this is the end of it.

Bird droppings! that's an interesting thought. Birds carry all type of diseases in their gut.

Good luck with your remaining fish.