Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations dying bluegills

I had a pond dug last fall and just stocked it two weeks ago with hybrid bluegill and lg mouth bass. Now I am getting 6 - 9 dead bluegill a day with spot on them. It's about the size of a pencil eraser, scales are missing but skin is not broken. I contacted Stoney creek where i got the fish and they have no idea. Does anyone else have any idea.

Your photo is a little out of focus. Is the "spot" always in the same location or on different parts of the body. Did S.Creek ask to see some of the fish or a photo? I always get suspect when fish start dying soon after stocking.

No the spot is in different locations on the body all seem to be about the same size though. The only thing s creek said was possibly parasites.

jackc :

Below are a couple of PB thread links on this topic.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002805;p=1#000009

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=19;t=000145;p=1#000001

JackC,

Were the caudal fins shredded like that when you got them? How large were the bass you planted at the same time? Are any of the fish feeding on pellets? What was you pond temp when you planted?
Did you try and feed them after you got them? If so did they start feeding in a few days? Do you have any water quality problems?

Firstly, I am not a trained fish pathologist. From your photo and my limited knowledge, it looks like either ulcer disease or furunculosis. Both diseases usually occur primarily in trout and are caused by forms of bacteria. Bacteria of ulcer disease enter the fishes skin where they have been injured (maybe excessive or rough handling). Sometimes in ulcer disease at the base of the sore there is a red discoloration that is caused by conjestion of blood vessels in the dermis which seems noticable in your fish. Because of the similarity in appearence of lesions, ulcer disease and furunculosis are difficult to separate by the untrained. Normally a furunculosis lesion first appears as a blister like swelling UNDER the skin which eventually breaks through the surface. It is filled with red puslike material. Whereas a lesion of ulcer disease always develops from the surface INWARD and does not extend for any distance into the muscles. In ulcer disease, muscle tissue appears to be eaten away cleanly from the surface with little evidence of undermining and irregular distintegration of the deeper muscles (as in furunculosis). IF it is either disease on your fish there is not much you can realistically do about it. Medicated food is available but not very practical unless you are a fish farmer. Left untreated, those susceptable will succumb, those tolerant will survive.

From Ewest's link above, your problem could also be classified as external lesions caused by bacterial infection.

I too am not a fish pathologist, but I have seen a few disease problems mainly due to my learning curve of making mistakes at animal husbandry, and the fact that I have so many different species in my ponds. I've done everything wrong -- subsequently stressing my fish, and now the only thing left is to know what I shouldn't do!

IMPO, what I am seeing in the picture is an aeromonas bacterial ulcer more specifically caused by aeromonas hydrophila. also known as MAS (Motile Aeromonas Septicemia), Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Red Sore Disease or Ulcer Disease as Bill says.

It's umbiquitous in the water or digestive track of the fish, and only causes problems when the fish are stressed. It could be aeromonas salmonicida (furunculosis), but I seriously doubt it as it's not that common in warmwater fish, and the ulcers do not fit the description. I could be wrong of course.

Here's a link that may be of interest:

http://aquanic.org/publicat/state/il-in/as-461.pdf


If the tail in the pic was that split up when you got the fish, then your fish were severely stressed before you ever got them. If that is the case I would have a word with your supplier and let them know you are not happy. May not help much but it will put them on notice.

Like Bill says the disease will have to take it's course and some will not make it and some won't. However if they are still feeding you could feed them medicated feed if you want to go that route. You can get 50 lbs. of medicated feed from Zeigler Brothers in Gardner PA for about $50.00 which would include UPS shipping. You would have a choice between terrimycin (oxcytetracycoline) or Romet which is a more broad spectrum antibiotic. Terrymycin has to be fed for 10 days while Romet only requires 5 days. Freeze what you don't use and save it if you ever have any problems in the future.

Their website is:

http://www.zeiglerfeed.com/


Be aware though you will be treating the fish that are not that sick yet as the sick ones probably won't eat anymore.

And one more thing: The feed is only available as sinking feed as the heat used to produce floating feed is not conducive to the antibiotics.

Bill and CB1 :

OUTSTANDING JOB !!!

PB Forum -- the best place for quality info on all things fish and ponds. You guys are a tremendous resource for this forum. Thanks.

CB1 I am saving the link from Aquanic from your other post on diseases and adding it here for others


Cecil Baird1
Lunker
Member # 245

Member Rated:
posted May 12, 2006 07:05 AM
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How do I know if I have sick fish...and why are they sick?

http://aquanic.org/publicat/state/il-in/ces/white.pdf

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How to make a small fortune in aquaculture -- spend a large fortune.