Description

These are two truly difficult virus diseases in fish (especially in carp-like fish like koi) in combination with the koi herpes virus (KHV). The trigger is a virus by the name of Rhabdovirus carpio (RNA virus). This disease usually occurs in the spring in ponds with water temperatures between 10 to 20°C. The symptoms are: bloodshot spots in the skin (at the edge of the fin), apathetic behaviour, sometimes pop-eyes and swollen abdominal cavities. Fish that survive the disease may remain carriers of the disease without exhibiting symptoms themselves.

Treatment

Direct treatment with medications is currently not possible.

It is important to improve the fishkeeping conditions. Vitaminizing the food is very helpful. Raising the water temperature to over 20°C is also described as being helpful. Spring viraemia must be reported in Germany. This is for the purpose of statistical recording, with no consequences for the koi carp keeper.