Parasite Identification

Symptoms: Slime coat excess, rapid gill movement, lethargy, and skin irritation.
Treatment Medications:
- Formalins (Formalin-Malachite Green): Used as a dip for external parasites like Costia. Effective at killing the protozoan.
- Potassium Permanganate: Also effective for Costia, helps oxidize the parasites.
- Copper-based treatments: Can also help eliminate Costia from the koi's skin and gills.

Symptoms: Scraping against surfaces, rapid gill movement, excessive mucus production.
Treatment Medications:
- Praziquantel (Prazipro, PraziGuard): The most effective treatment for both skin and gill flukes.
- Formalins (Formalin-Malachite Green): Can help reduce fluke infestation on the skin.
- Copper-based treatments: Helps in severe infestations and for general parasite management.

Symptoms: White cysts on the skin, fins, and gills, rapid breathing, flashing behavior.
Treatment Medications:
- Copper-based treatments: Effective in eradicating the parasite at all life stages.
- Malachite Green: One of the most common treatments, works well with formalin.
- Salt Baths: Can help reduce stress and assist in the healing of damaged tissues from the parasite.

Symptoms: Excess mucus, gill damage, lethargy, flashing.
Treatment Medications:
- Formalin-Malachite Green: Very effective for Trichodina infestations, works well in baths.
- Potassium Permanganate: Reduces the parasite load and helps to disinfect the tank.

Symptoms: Rapid breathing, flashing, skin lesions, excessive mucus production.
Treatment Medications:
- Formalin: Used as a dip to kill Brooklynella parasites.
- Copper-based treatments: Effective for Brooklynella, especially when used in conjunction with formalin.

Symptoms: Mucus excess, itchy koi, rapid gill movements.
Treatment Medications:
- Praziquantel: Works well for skin flukes.
- Formalin-Malachite Green: Effective in eliminating skin flukes when used as a bath.

Symptoms: Visible worms protruding from the skin or fins, swelling, ulceration.
Treatment Medications:
- Copper-based treatments: Effective at treating anchor worms.
- Potassium Permanganate: Kills parasites and prevents re-infestation when used properly.
- Formalin-Malachite Green: Used for external parasite management.

Symptoms: Small, white cysts dotting the fish’s body, fins, or gills.
Treatment Medications:
- Copper-based treatments: For effective parasite eradication.
- Formalin-Malachite Green: Another popular treatment for ich.

Symptoms:
- Lethargy, rapid gill movement, and mucus production.
- White spots or cyst-like lesions on the skin and gills.
- Flashing behavior and possible loss of appetite.
Treatment Medications:
- Formalin: Used as a dip for external parasites, including Chilodonella. It works by destroying the parasite and its cysts.
- Copper-based treatments: Effective for external protozoan parasites like Chilodonella, particularly when used as a bath.
- Potassium Permanganate: Another useful chemical for reducing the parasite load in the water and helping to disinfect the pond.
- Salt Baths: Salt can help reduce stress and assist in eliminating parasites. It’s useful for external protozoan infections.

Symptoms:
- Visible parasites attached to the skin or fins.
- Swelling or ulceration at the attachment sites.
- Excessive mucus production, scratching, and rubbing against surfaces.
Treatment Medications:
- Copper-based treatments: Highly effective for treating Argulus, as they kill the parasites at all stages of their life cycle.
- Formalin: Often used in combination with other treatments, formalin works to destroy parasites on the skin.
- Potassium Permanganate: Can also be used for external parasites like Argulus, helping in disinfection and parasite elimination.
- Dimilin (Lufenuron): An insect growth regulator that interferes with the development of Argulus, breaking its lifecycle.
- Salt Baths: Can aid in stress reduction and overall health improvement for koi with parasitic infestations.