Plant Tips, Koi Care, Pond Care

 

The Fish Who Survived a Pump  (Mechanical Damage to a Koi)

Photos and Documentary by Bonnie E. Hale
 

damage done by being sucked to a pumpLucky came in with a break in his tail. The first night here he was sucked to the pump. The next morning he was found to have a big red colored bulge on his side. The picture was taken on Aug. 12th 1999.


A week later and the real damage was evident. Using small scissors, I carefully cut away the flap of dead tissue. His appetite was good and he was getting along good with the other fish so I left him in the main tank. I did add .3 salt to the tank.
 
broken back7days_later flap of skin was surgically removedThis picture shows the full extent of the damage the fish suffered once the flap of skin was removed. On the advice of Erik Johnson DVM, author of Koi Health and Disease, I did nothing but maintain pristine water conditions and salt. The fish continued to make good progress. I was very tempted to do euthanasia on him once I saw how bad the fish actually was.  

 
almost healed after 3 monthsThree months later all that remains is a small bruise where there was once a big gapping hole. I am confident that he will continue to make good progress. one year later fish is healed but you can see where the breaks were in the backThis is Lucky swimming for his picture one year later. You can see the slight indentation just behind the left pectoral fin where he was sucked to the pump and the knot where there is a break in the tail on the rear left side.