Reasons for koi stopping eating and swimming slowly in spring and strategies to deal with them

As spring blossoms and everything recovers, it should be a time when koi are energized and swimming happily. However, as a Koi enthusiast, you find that Koi suddenly stop eating, swim slowly and even become listless, which is definitely confusing and worrying.

        The health of koi is closely related to a variety of factors such as water quality, environment and disease, and any small change can affect their behavior. In order to help you better understand this phenomenon, this article will analyze the possible reasons for koi stopping eating and slow swimming from a professional point of view, and provide practical solutions to help you restore the vitality and vigor of your koi. Let's explore the root cause of the problem and find a scientific solution.

Cause analysis

1. Water quality issues
   Koi are very sensitive to changes in water quality, and deterioration of water quality (e.g., elevated ammonia and nitrite levels) or fluctuations in pH may cause them to stop eating and swim slowly.
2. disease infection
   Koi may be infected with bacteria, viruses or parasites that cause loss of appetite and reduced activity. Common diseases include white spot disease and enteritis.
3. stress response
   Changes in the environment (e.g. sudden changes in water temperature, noise, bright light) or the addition of new fish may trigger a stress reaction in koi, causing them to stop eating and swim slowly.

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2. Seasonal factors
   Although temperatures are picking up, the metabolism of koi may be affected when water temperatures fluctuate widely, resulting in a loss of appetite.
3. indigestion
   Overfeeding or poor quality food may cause koi to suffer from indigestion, which can lead to stopping eating and slow swimming.

   prescription

   1. Improvement of water quality
   • Replace 1/8 to 1/10 of the total water volume in the fish pond daily for 3 to 5 days to ensure that the new water is dechlorinated.
   • Regularly test water quality parameters to keep pH, ammonia and nitrite within appropriate ranges.
   2. disease control
   • Observe koi for symptoms such as surface damage and abdominal swelling, isolate and consult a veterinarian for treatment.
   • Use fungicidal and de-worming medications, such as raising the water temperature above 28°C to suppress pathogens.
   3. Stress reduction
   • Avoid sudden environmental changes, e.g., reduce distractions such as noise and glare.
   • When new fish are added, acclimatize gradually and avoid putting them directly into the main pool.
   4. Adjustment of feeding strategies
   • Control the amount of feeding, avoid overfeeding, and ensure that the feed is fresh and nutritionally balanced.
   • Add food attractants (e.g., fish dopa and fish alfa) to the feed to enhance appetite.
   5. Maintain stable water temperature
   • Use heating rods or insulation measures to ensure that the water temperature is between 20~28℃ to avoid large fluctuations. For more details, please contact: 020-82686289.