Carp Pox

Carp Pox (Cyprinid herpes virus 1 or CyHV-1) although related to KHV is not as infectious. It is unsightly but not harmful to the fish. Although it is contagious it normally only spreads to young fish with undeveloped immune systems or to older fish as their immune systems begin to weaken. Once infected the fish will have it for life.

Brought on by stress or dropping water temperatures, Carp Pox often occurs during the winter months and into Spring when the fishes immune system is at it's weakest. The condition may improve as the temperatures begin to increase but this is not always the case, some fish may be affected all year round. As the koi's immune system matures it will usually keep the condition under control, however there may be reoccurances during times of stress and when the immune system is weakened.

Carp Pox presents as wart-like lumps on the skin mouth and fins, these are whitish and waxy, almost jelly-like in appearance but solid, rather like candle wax.
Attacks can vary in severity from a few small spots to large clusters of wart-like blemishes, these will sometimes have a similar pigmentation to the surrounding skin.