Health Care

Anyone who keeps koi or goldfish will at some time come across a case of dystocia or egg binding, (sometimes called egg impaction), in a mature female. The condition will be evident in mid-summer, although in some instances things can go wrong in early spring.

The change in seasons, and thus, water temperatures play a huge part in egg development and the maturity of carp. As the daylight hours increase and temperatures reach the trigger point of 20 degrees C, those females that are mature enough to spawn will do so. In some cases spawning will take place in late summer if spring temperatures are unfavorable.

Bleeding gills is almost always seen in ONLY female fish, after some sort of stress ie. capture and handling, or injection. It is not uncommon in the spring.

It is probable that high levels of the reproductive (estrogenic) hormones make the tissues more 'friable' or soft. These highly vascular tissues can then suffer some bleeding when the fish is stressed. There is no cause for alarm, but obviously the need to handle your koi should be kept to an absolute minimum.

There is no recommended treatment as such, except as previously stated, minimizing handling, and thus, stress. If you do have to handle your fish, provide ample space and plenty of fresh, well aerated water before and after handling.