Pond Boss
Posted By: newbee Dead Fish - 03/27/03 03:34 AM
In the past week I have found channel catfish floating in my pond. The numbers are low, maybe eight in the past seven days, but it's starting to concern me. The fish appear to have no markings, fungus, sores or any signs that they were even sick. I have examined the fish closely and found no signs of disease, but the gills did appear to be swollen. Further, I have found several laboring near shore early in the morning.

Now the funny thing is the fish are eating like it is going out of style and everything appears to be normal. The other weird thing is the other species of fish (ie. Blue Cats, Bass and Bream) are doing very well.

I know I am not giving you much to go on, but please help me. Worried that this trend will continue.
Posted By: Tony Beltrani Re: Dead Fish - 03/27/03 03:55 AM
I wish I had the answer!! I have found the same in my pond for the past three days. If you find out anything please let me know.tb
Posted By: tim k Re: Dead Fish - 03/27/03 01:49 PM
I lost almost every fish in my pond some years back and it was due to lack of oxygen - the weather caused my pond to "turn over" - largest fish are affected first and the most. If the fish are on the surface gasping for air, this may be the problem. Let some of the pros weigh in.
Posted By: Buzz Tatom Re: Dead Fish - 03/27/03 02:08 PM
We had a few fish dying last week. When we talked to Bob Lusk he questioned whether we were feeding yet. We had just started. He said we may have had some moldy or old food that could kill some of the fish. Check it out and see. I know every year when we start up feeding there is always some dirty food in ours left over from the fall. I would clean it out or stop feeding for a while and see what happens. I have been told by several people that it would be unusual for there to be an oxygen problem this time of year. Not impossible but improbable. Just a thought.
Posted By: Fletch Re: Dead Fish - 03/27/03 04:41 PM
Look closeley at the gills. if they are swollen and look like hamburger meat then you may have what is called proliferative gill disease or sometimes called hamburger gill. It is thought to be caused by a sporazoan parasite that uses the channel cat as an intermideate host in one stage of its life cycle. it causes the gills to become large and inflamed to the point that the do not function properly. lack of oxygen is not likley this early in the year, but dont rule it out. if the cats were "bobbing" at the surface openening and closing their mouths but had no other signs of sickness hamburger gill might very well be it. it can be treated with potassium permangenate. but it will only kill the spores in the water not inside the fish so multiple treatments will be required. contact your local lake management rep. to get this done as it can get tricky.
Posted By: Greg Grimes Re: Dead Fish - 03/28/03 08:57 PM
This will not be much help, but have clients that in the spring after a few days of warm weather lose a couple of isolated fish and usually catfish. This is a time when the immune system is the lowest. If other fish are fine I would not worry about it.
Posted By: Cecil Baird1 Re: Dead Fish - 03/28/03 10:27 PM
Tell us more. What is the water temperature? How old is your feed? Are you feeding the other fish species too?

If your water is still rather cool you fish may be eating but can't digest the feed. If so you need to back off on the feed. As said in a previous post another possibility is could have old feed. If there is mold or fungus in the feed it could kill your fish. Do you look at the date on the bag? Your really shouldn't use feed more than 3 months after the date on the bag.
© Pond Boss Forum