HOW TO SKIN SCRAPE KOI - How to scrape, use a microscope, identify parasites and more

Carry out a skin scrape and examine mucus samples under a microscope from at least 3 different fish to find out if they have a parasite infestation.
A cheap but good microscope we recommend: cuttlebrookkoifarm.co.uk/coll...
Fish normally carry the odd parasite on their body without any ill effects, however, under certain conditions, such as when the fish is stressed, water quality is poor, or the environment is dirty, parasites can multiply until the fish becomes infested and unwell as a result. Should an infestation be identified, it is not just an individual fish that will need to be treated, but the whole pond along with the whole community of Koi in the pond.
Equipment needed:
-Microscope
-Slides
-Net for catching your Koi
-Bowl or floating basket for holding your Koi whilst carrying out a scrape
-A good Koi Health book with pictures and descriptions of Koi parasites
Once you have identified which parasite you have, treat it accordingly.
Common parasites and their treatment
Trichodina
Treatment: Malachite and Formalin
(We recommend using separate bottles of Formalin and Malachite Green rather than blends as blends can often be weaker than is needed).
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the bottles (not suitable for use at low temperatures).
Costia
Treatment: Formalin and Malachite Green
(We recommend using separate bottles of Formalin and Malachite Green rather than blends as blends can often be weaker than is needed).
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the bottles (not suitable for use at low temperatures).
Alternatively (not to be used in conjunction with Formalin and Malachite Green)
PDV Salt
Dosage: 0.9% (use a salt meter) in the pond and maintain that level for one week before slowly reducing with your regular weekly water changes. (You can use salt one week after dosing with Formalin and Malachite Green).
See our article When and How to use Salt for more information.
White Spot
Treatment: Formalin and Malachite Green
(We recommend using separate bottles of Formalin and Malachite Green rather than blends as blends can often be weaker than is needed).
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the bottle (not suitable for use at low temperatures).
Re-treat every three weeks for three doses.
Alternatively (not to be used in conjunction with Formalin and Malachite Green)
PDV Salt
At 0.75% (use a salt meter) in the pond and maintained at that level continuously for six weeks before reducing slowly with weekly water changes.
See our article When and How to use Salt for more information.
Chilodonella
Treatment: Formalin and Malachite Green
(We recommend using separate bottles of Formalin and Malachite Green rather than blends as blends can often be weaker than is needed).
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the bottle (not suitable for use at low temperatures).
Gill Flukes
Treatment: Flukesolve
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the packet
Body Flukes
Treatment: Flukesolve
Dosage: Follow the instructions on the packet
Parasite infestations often occur in ponds which are poorly maintained, where the fish become stressed, and where areas of waste have been allowed to build up in the system. Making sure your pond stays clean at all times will reduce the number of parasite outbreaks that occur.
For more information, please refer to our website: cuttlebrookkoifarm.co.uk/diag...
MUSIC: WWW.BENSOUND.COM

[@melissapriddy3739]

Thanks so much for this video. We are about to do our 1st scrapings and microscope exams on some of our Koi.

[@mikeharris2438]

Great video Mark👍 , some well behaved beautiful koi there!

[@daviddavis9438]

Really helpful showing what the parasites look like and at what magnification. Thanks!

[@meganhuge1]

Super helpful! You make it look so easy! I can't catch a fish to get a sample. I've royally stressed them out now. I'll give them a break.

[@fishgeek]

A great video, clear and well made

[@IcenI_Koi]

Shared on our club page, thanks Mark.

[@mrtings]

Helpful and informative thank you 🙏🏾

[@SyafriMukhrizal]

The best koi treatment i ever seen

[@mrbigmel3]

Thank you mark and Lisa for all the koi over the years well worth the trip up there from Cheshire . Best wishes for 2021

[@simonjones8611]

Brilliant video, Good to see the microscope images and magnification.

[@Ben-iz7ix]

Brilliant video very very helpful thank you

[@gordonblythe1828]

Very good video thanks more please

[@anthonywatkins2783]

Brilliant video, really helpful as a newbie to recognise various problems, thank you 👌

[@AMGINE1000]

top video thanks for sharing

[@puffybaronton]

Great video Mark.You wont remember but I'm going to try to locate the video I took of you extracting eggs from your brood fish.All the best to you and the family.

[@richd-koi6974]

Well done great vid that 👍🐟

[@jarydmahmood8099]

thanks guys, great vid

[@thepeoplespond]

Getting my microscope this weekend Scrape school time 🧐

[@themanfromvolantis]

1.27 on the video... The koi appears to roll in anticipation of the scrape. Awesome. Mine always try to stop me taking the scrape.

[@gabrielrocha2744]

great video friend. A question: are some small balls that appear moving transparently are bacteria?

[@katapultsmash]

Awesome! I was under the impression that I had to take scale samples! I didn’t want to do this as I was frightened I would hurt them! This seems relatively non invasive!

[@karlaug4450]

0:01 , 0:1 9-calico one and the orange & white one at it's left , 0:23-far right orange and white next to the white one and the white one being the 2 below the screen , 0:44 - calico , 0:45- copper like one , 0:46 - the white one , 1:27- copper like color one , 0:21-orange one at the bottom of the screen , 1:58-orange and white middle of the screen , 4:52-orange and white one middle of the screen are what full name of type of koi patterns and do they have scales ?.

[@peterfinkill8098]

Excellent video. Your fish seem very relaxed when you are taking the scrape. Mine always seem very panicky and often struggle! I always find it quite difficult netting the fish. Chasing them around the pond seems to stress them out. Have you any tips on the fish handling aspects of this?

[@themanfromvolantis]

Don't chase them. Just put the pan net on the pond floor and then slowwwwwly corner the koi. Come from beneath him and if he swims just track his movement gently. Half the time they don't even realise there is a net under them. Keep everything nice and smooth and it's much less stressful for both of you. Then gently guide them toward the bowl.

[@jamesmaitland4801]

What is the scope your useing mate cheers

[@themanfromvolantis]

3.27 in..... You what? I am not going to contradict someone of your experience and wisdom. When I saw that I thought paramecium. How do you tell the difference? BTW I am somebody who once nuked my pond after mistaking paramecium for chilodonella. I still don't really know the difference between paramecium and chilodonella. Now we have junior whitespot too. Is there a close up anywhere?

[@wills1206]

I took nuked my pond 2 or 3 times mistaking tetrahymena for chillo 😢 likewise I struggle to tell the difference