Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose velvet disease

I have been catching a few fish with velvet disease. These have puslets on them. These fish sometimes have just a little on the fins while others are nearly covered with it. I have seen it on bluegill, warmouth, minnows, and green sunfish.
What should I do with the fish i catch with it on them? Will it affect my preditor fish? I have been throwing them up on the bank. Is this caused by something in the water?

Most diseases are stress mediated. That means that many patogens etc. are already present but they don't bother unstressed fish. However if the fish are stressed the pathogens gain access.

Anything that could be stressing your fish? Poor food supply, rapid temperature changes or low temps for the species (coppernose bluegills florida largemouths in cold water, catch and release in water temps below 50 F., spawning, bad genes from inbreeding, overcrowding, low D.O. levels etc?

Sorry didn't answer all your questions. There's not much you can do unless you determine the stressor and eliminate it. However the disease will probably run it's course and won't effect all the fish. I'm not familar with "velvet disease" unless it is columnaris or saprolegnia. If so it will run its course.

I think why the fish are stressed because down here in south texas one day the morning will be 35 then the next morning will be 60. thanks for the input. i just want to know if i should throw them back in the water or not.

Your fish have a fungus. The fungus is a result of a pathogen. The pathogen is a result of a stressor, like rapid temperature fluctuations. I see this situation quite often, and is most associated with crowded conditions, especially with green sunfish and bullhead catfish. Throw the fish out. As temps drop, the fungus eventually kills your fish, but in warmer water, fish heal before fungus has time to attack. Another of nature's way to keep populations in check.

Thats true about the fish i mostly see it on. I have mostly seen it on greensunfish and i caught it on a few bullheads. Thats good i really dont want those fish in my pond anyway. I really think the tempatures have dont it because the temp one day is 70 degrees in the day time then the next it is in the 40's all for few days then jumps up into the mid 80's. Thanks for the help. I really needed the advise to do with these fish.