Koi Disease: Protecting Your Fish From KHV
As you take care of your Koi, you should always protect them from deadly viruses such as the KHV (or the Koi Herpes Virus). You should know that your fish is very prone to the disease. So how do you protect your Koi from this? The only way to protect your pets is to never get them exposed to it. Having the necessary information about the virus can help you protect your Koi better.
The Facts About KHV:
So what is KHV? Since the primary outbreak, little information has only been learned about the disease. Knowing the facts is an essential thing for the protection and survival of your own pets. The KHV is a deadly disease which has just recently popped up in the industry. During the late 1998 and early 1999, the first outbreak has been reported in Israel, then followed by confirmed reports in other places like Asia, the United States and Europe.
The virus is known to infect the victim throughout their full lifespan. Even the fish who don't show any signs of the virus, they will be carriers if exposed to it. The mortality rate for those that have been exposed is 60 to 80 percent.
There is no cure for the KHV. Even if treatment is given to the Koi, never again will they be able to go to a new home, and this is because if you put them in a healthy population, as they'll spread the virus to others, causing a high mortality rate in the process. Remember that this virus can spread in various ways, like the fish coming into contact with the infected ones, tools used to handle the infected fish, the water in which the infected fish swam, etc.
Stress doesn't directly cause the disease itself, but what it can do is that it can increase the mortality rate of the fish. Temperatures at 74 degrees Fahrenheit can be utilized to track the virus, and it will allow the necessary testing and quarantining of your fish to observe if they have been exposed or not.
Preventative Measures That Can Be Taken
Depopulation is one of the best preventative measures that you can do, which is where you eliminate your entire pet population. Although it may seem as a harsh method if you look at it, with this you can really ensure that you don't infect the other fish in your pond. Another way to do this is by quarantining. If you buy a new fish, make it a point that you quarantine it before mixing it with your current population (for a period of no less than 15 days).
Quarantining your Koi means that they should be totally isolated from the others. Separate the water, food and tools you use for the isolated ones. Ensure as well that the tools being used for them will not leave the area where they are to be used. Proper hand washing procedures should be observed in handling your pets and other essential items. If you follow these effective preventative measures will help you protect your fish from catching the virus.
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