How Do You Preform A Koi Skin Scrapes?
A How-To Guide
Skin scrapes are vital to accurately diagnose fish parasites.
If your koi are behaving differently you’ll need to determine the reason for the strange behaviour in order to resolve the problem. Firstly test the pond water with a water test kit to determine if all your water parameters are within acceptable levels. below are just some of the test kits we offer
Colombo Pond Test Lab Professional – cotswold koi – water testing
NT Labs Pond Multi Test Kit – Cotswold Koi – Pond Test Kits
NT Labs Pond Water Mini Test Kit – Cotswold Koi – Pond Test Kits
Colombo Quicktest 6-IN-1 Water Test Strips – Cotswold Koi
Simple tests can rule out water quality as the trigger for unusual koi behaviour. if water test passes with flying colours, then proceed to parasite activity as the next possible cause.
Parasite Activity
Fish parasites can be microscopic as well as being able to see with the naked eye.
Skin scrapes must be performed to identify microscopic parasites.
Fish parasites are usually discovered this way; the majority of harmful koi parasites are microscopic.
The purpose of taking a skin scrape is to obtain a sample of mucus or there slime coat, from a koi’s body, for analysing under a microscope. The mucus specimen is examined for parasitic existence. when a koi has been stressed the parasites will flourish and can become problematic.
Typical koi behaviours suggest that skin scrapes should be performed:
■ Flashing, flicking and darting, or rubbing on pond edges or sides or even the bottom drain if you have one as if to rid an irritant
■ Loss of appetite not interested in food when your feeding and general sluggishness moving very slowly or not at all
■ Hanging motionless in water
■ Unusual gill activity; clamped gills or excessive movement
■ Clamped fins holding there fins in
■ Isolation; not mixing with other koi maybe in one corner of the pond not really moving
■ A foggy cloudy eye, patches of fungus, bumps, sores, ulcers or lesions on the body, tail or fins
■ Congregating in high oxygen areas such as waterfalls or around air stones or inlets
■ Lying on its side on pond bottom, exhibiting sharp movements if disturbed only to resume lying-down position after
■ Reddening of skin or fins piratically noticeable in the white coloured parts of the koi
Performing skins scrapes can be a daunting task. Getting good quality skin scrapes will take practice. And shouldn’t be rushed
Accurate parasite identification with a microscope will take even more practice. With time, you’ll gain confidence in handling your koi and become confidant at obtaining and preparing specimens for microscopic examination.
Preforming the Skin Scrape
Things you will need to perform a successful skin scrape:
■ Sock Net
■ Eye-dropper
■ Hand towel
Start with setting out all necessary equipment for a proper and successful skin scrapes before netting your koi. on a clean and dry surface.
Fill a koi viewing bowl with water from the pond or tank just to a depth sufficient enough to cover the koi. Using a sock net carefully put one koi into the viewing bowl. You will be holding the fish with one hand and performing the skin scrape with the other. Try not to touch the areas designated as scrape sites. and Never blot, wipe or wrap the koi in a towel. This would remove the parasites that you are trying to capture from the fish
When handling a koi you should try to remain calm and maintain quiet surroundings. If the koi is of substantial size, a helper may be needed. so one can hold the koi as the other one takes the scrape It is a good idea to give your koi a break and a chance to breathe in between each scrape. By releasing it momentarily back in to the koi bowl you’ll ensure it gets through the ordeal with minimal stress.
Start by holding your fish against the side of the viewing bowl with its flank side out of the water. Grasping the slide or scrape card firmly, hold it at a 45-degree angle and press it down on to the fish. Apply some pressure and drag the edge of the slide or scrape card along the flank, from the shoulder toward the tail. Never go against the scales, as you may damage them. By applying slight pressure you should be able to scrape some mucus from the skin. You only need a small amount; about the size of a pencil eraser. The mucus will be clear or vaguely opaque.
Once you have a sample on the slide, place one drop of pond water on top of the mucus and gently place a cover slip on top of the sample. The cover slip will force the mucus to spread out on the slide you are now ready to view under your microscope.
For best results your samples should be examined within 30 minutes of being collected. The parasites don’t live long when they are of the fish. You need them to be alive to analyse under the microscope this means we know how many active alive parasites there are on the host and they are easier to see when they are moving
Performing a skin biopsy or skin scrape can be intimidating, and getting good quality scrapes will take practice and some patience. But if your koi are not their usual, lively selves getting a quality skin scrape and learning to analyse them is the first step in restoring them to health
The sooner you accurately diagnose the existence and type of parasites that may be annoying your koi, the sooner your fish will be bright, active, happy and healthy again.
After you have preformed the scrape you then need to look under the microscope and see if you can spot anything moving take your time making sure you look closely at the whole slide then identify what parasite you have the book below the koi doctor has some very good pictures of all the different parasites koi can get and explains more about them and what treatments to preform.
Bare in mind We would not recommend treating your pond or koi for parasites unless you have preformed a scrape and identified what you have also that you have more than one count of that parasite on a slide
Some of the items we have available at Cotswold koi to help with koi scrapes
Koi Keepers Kit – Cotswold Koi Koi Care – Pond maintenance
Large Koi Keepers Kit – Cotswold Koi Koi Care – Pond maintenance
Large Premium Koi Keepers Kit – Cotswold Koi – Koi Care –
Premium Koi Keepers Kit – Cotswold Koi – Koi Care – Pond maintenance
All the items in the above kits are available to purchase individually as well as in kits
We also stock a great book which will be able to help you
The Koi Doctor
The Koi Doctor is an essential overview of all aspects of koi keeping. This guide is intended for hobbyists who care deeply about their ornamental fish. The innumerable tips in this book are indispensable for anyone who wants to keep their Koi in the best conditions possible. The Koi Doctor enlists and describes the most common problems in Koi keeping and presents simple solutions if possible.
Maarten Lammens presents information on water quality and disease in koi, in a clear and concise format without overload.
A good resource for anyone wishing to learn more about parasites and treatment of koi ponds.
Full of infographics and real photos of koi and garden pond treatments.