Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Last Rites Over This Grass Carp ?

I have 5 grass carp in my pond - all 14 years old. One of them has been acting strange for the past month, swimming around by itself (unusual because they typically swim in a pack) with his tail fin and dorsal fin sticking out of the water. Just seems to wander around aimlessly and sometimes just sits motionless in one spot.

I find this to be quite unusual - is it in the early stages of dying ?

See picture

Not sure. Could be several things.

Mine behave this way occasionally , best I can tell , no deaths. 4-5 yoa.

I fear that your carp is ailing. However, they are pretty darn tough fish, so perhaps he can get over a health problem?

Hopefully, he is just auditioning for the remake of Jaws.

Update on grass carp - spends more time swimming around with dorsal and tail fin sticking out of the water. Also tail fin has split in two and is turning reddish.

It is painful watching him/her swimming around aimlessly.

Could possibly be a swim bladder issue. We had someone catch one of our grass carp and release it only for it to being to float for days on end. I have seen people release air from the swim blader with hypodermic needle with "success" but am not sure if this is more harmful to this fish in the long run.

As my GC got older, they developed spine problems & could no longer swim properly. Swimming on the surface & in circles was common. I have read that electro fishing can damage the spine of older GC if they get in the current path. My understanding that 12 years & above is a ripe old age. They will most likely soon be swimming in the grand old pond in the sky. In the past I have tried to ladder the GC age wise in the pond, every 5-6 years put just a couple of young ones in.

Thanks for the responses - just noticed this AM that the dorsal fin is now got a red color to it and looks like it is deteriorating just like the tail fin is doing.

Have had no electro shocking in the pond - so just maybe old age taking over.