Jungle Lab Pond Products by Just Liners

Fish Health Q&A

*Adding New Fish*
Q. Fish appear distressed and may dart about. What do I do?	A. Add Pond Start to pond water to reduce stress and make water safe for fish immediately.
*Water Changes- Treatments*
Q. Partial water changes are needed before, during and after using treatments. What do I do?	A. Add Pond Start when making water changes to condition water and reduce stress in fish; If water contains chloramine, also use Pond Ammonia Chloramine Remover.
*Acidic Water*
Q. Fish act stressed, have labored breathing, tremors, hyperactivity, increased mucous production. What do I do?	A. Pond pH Increaser after verifying with Quick Dip Pond Test Kit.
*Alkaline Water*
Q. White water lines form; Plants are unhealthy; Fish have frayed fins, cloudiness of skin and gills. What do I do?	A. Pond pH Decreaser after verifying with Quick Dip Pond Test Kit.
*Ammonia in Water*
Q. Fish are excitable, stressed, dart around pond, lose appetite due to overcrowding, overfeeding, recent pond cleaning, reduced water flow, chloramine in water supply. What do I do?	A. Pond Ammonia Chloramine Remover.
*Nitrates in Water*
Q. Fish appear stressed; Algae is growing in pond. What do I do?	A. Test water for nitrates with Quick Dip Pond Test Kit; To reduce nitrate, make a partial water change using Pond Start and add Pond Clear-Zyme blocks or Pond Clear - Zyme Concentrate.
*Nitrites in Water*
Q. Ammonia is present in pond water; Fish's normal activity slows down; Fish stop eating or die without visible symptoms. What do I do?	A. Test water for nitrites with Quick Dip Pond Test Kit; To reduce nitrite, make a partial water change using Pond Start and add Pond Clear-Zyme blocks or Pond Clear-Zyme Concentrate; If nitrite is present, ammonia is also present, so add Pond Ammonia Chloramine Remover.
*Chlorine in Water Supply*
Q. Fish are excitable, stressed, dart around pond, gills pump very fast, fish die. What do I do?	A. Pond Start to remove chlorine and reduce stress to fish.
*Chloramine in Water Supply*
Q. Fish are excitable, stressed, dart around pond, gills pump very fast, fish die. What do I do?	A. Pond Ammonia Chloramine Remover to remove chloramine; Use with Pond Start to reduce stress in fish.

*Special Needs of Fish*
Q. Some types of fish have special needs such as diet, water temperature, water quality, etc. What do I do?	A. Be sure to read up of the types of ornamental pond fish you have and learn which ones require special care; Some only eat special foods, some require warmer or colder water temperatures, and some even require certain types of water qualities having to do with pH, acidity, alkalinity, etc.
*How Many Fish*
Q. Too many fish in a pond can cause it to be overcrowded resulting in excess food/waste debris, and ultimately stressed fish and an unclean environment. What do I do?	A. Be sure to not overcrowd your pond; A rule of thumb is: one inch of fish per gallon of pond water; Most important is to allow for adequate surface area (10-12 square inches) per inch of fish; Only start with a few, inexpensive fish when cycling your pond.
*Sensitive Fish*
Q. Different types of pond fish can be sensitive to different things such as temperature, water quality or treatments. What do I do?	A. Be sure to read up on your pond fish and know the specifics of their needs; Test water for different water quality levels if needed with Quick Dip Pond Test Kit; In addition, when using any kind of treatment, be sure to read the warnings and directions carefully for information pertaining to its use with sensitive fish.
Water Temperature for Cold Water Fish
Q. Coldwater fish, such as Koi and Goldfish, prefer a colder climate than tropical fish. What do I do?	A. Most ornamental pond fish, such as Goldfish and Koi, are able to adjust to temperature changes through the different seasons; Just be make sure to keep pond water from freezing completely on top as this could deplete oxygen.
*Choosing Healthy Fish*
Q. Choosing quality ornamental pond fish is crucial to starting and keeping a healthy pond; One unhealthy fish can spread disease and lead to further fish loss. What do I do?	A. Before purchasing fish, observe fish and make sure it swims around well and in a stable manner; if possible, check to see if fish eats well; Make sure fins are erect and body color is good; Avoid selecting fish from a holding facility with other fish that are dead or ill; Don't choose a fish with spots, lumps, red streaks or frayed fins.
*Starter Fish for Cycling a Pond*
Q. A new pond needs to be cycled"" in order to start the natural biological process."What do I do?	A. Be sure to choose hardy fish, such as comets that are inexpensive; Use Pond Start and Pond Clear-Zyme blocks or Pond Clear-Zyme Concentrate to start the cycling off right.
*Koi*
Q. Considering Koi for a pond. What do I do?	A. Koi are a selective bred variety of the common carp and can be inexpensive, or extremely expensive depending on the type and quality (color and patterns); They can cohabitate well with Goldfish/Comets and many plants (although they will eat some plants); They can reach a length of several feet and can live an average life span of 25 - 50 years depending on their health and environment (some have been known to live up to 100 years).
*Goldfish*
Q. Considering Goldfish for a pond. What do I do?	A. There are numerous types of Goldfish to consider for a pond that can range from inexpensive (comets) to expensive (fancy-tailed varieties); They cohabitate will with Koi and are in general a very hardy fish; Markings and coloration (in general black, orange, white, yellow) are also just as varied from Goldfish to Goldfish.
*Feeding Fish a Regular Diet*
Q. Ornamental pond fish need a regular diet that includes minerals, vitamins, fat, protein, and carbohydrates. What do I do?	A. Feed pond fish a varied diet of high quality foods that are available in flake or pellet form; As a special, nutritious treat, you can actually feed your pond fish cooked rice or pasta as part of their regular diet; Feed small amounts of food, 2-3 times a day and never overfeed; Feedings should decrease as the temperatures drop as fish metabolism slows down and less food is required.
*Feeding Fish While You're Out*
Q. You are unable to feed fish due to vacation or an out of town business trip. What do I do?	A. Use mechanical feeders or blocks that are specially formulated with food to feed fish while you are away; In general, pond fish are very hardy fish and can actually go a few days without feedings.
*Medicated Foods*
Q. Fish may have internal parasites. What do I do?	A. Medicated foods are available and can be effective in clearing the digestive tracts of fish to keep them free of internal parasites.
*Overfeeding*
Q. Pond water is cloudy due to uneaten food and excess waste. What do I do?	A. Be sure to never overfeed your pond fish; Overfeeding only clouds the water and contributes to sludge layers; It can also lead to unhealthy fish and can kill them; Only feed fish as much as they will consume in 3-5 minutes, 2-3 times a day; Decrease feedings as water temperatures drop as fish metabolism slows down and less food is required; Using Pond Clear-Zyme blocks or Pond Clear-Zyme Concentrate or Pond Water Clear to help clear the sludge and debris caused by overfeeding.

Fish Diseases Use Pond Fungus Eliminator to clear serious fungus and/or bacteria related conditions on pond fish as follows:
Clamped Fins - Fins held close to body; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Cloudy Eyes - White or gray film over eyes; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Fish Bloat Dropsy - Fish bloated with protruding scales; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Fungus - Cottony growth on fin, mouth, tail or any part of body; Fish remain still on tank bottom; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Gill Disease - Gills may be swollen and pump fast; Slime may trail from gills; Fish swim in jerking motion; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Pop Eye - Eyes protrude from head; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Rot (body, fin, mouth or tail) - Black patches and/or white edges on fins; Mouth or fins decay; Frayed or jagged fins; Red sores on body; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Red Streaks - Red blood streaks or blotches on fins or body; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Swim Bladder Disease - Fish are unbalanced and have difficulty maintaining position; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Thin Fish - Belly appears sunken; Fish are sluggish; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Bacterial Slime Disease - During the Winter season or low temperatures (mostly in ponds), thick white mucous covers the body of fish such as Koi/Goldfish and other cold water fish; There is a reddish irritation of the affected areas; This is a condition that could be caused by fungus and/or bacteria related problems in the pond. Ulcers -Fish have lesions, reddening at the base of the fins and the vent; Loss of appetite and darkening of coloration.
*Tumors*
Q. Unusual growths or swellings on or in any part of the body; If tumors grow on internal organs, you may notice firm, noticeable swellings to the general body shape. What do I do?	A. No treatment available; Tumors are not necessarily fatal, but if concerned you can contact your vet; Some fish live years with tumors and some tumors even disappear with time.
Parasites Use Pond Parasite Guard to remove parasites; This is a safe and effective treatment for the external parasites that live on the skin, fins, gills and mouth cavity of pond fish as follows:
Black Spot Disease - Small, black specks on skin; These specks could be parasites. Clamped Fins - Fins held close to body; This is a condition that could be caused by parasites. Fish Lice - Flat, disk-shapes slowly moving on skin and fins; This is a type of parasite. Flashing (itching) - Irritation on skin causes fish to scrape against objects in tank; This is a condition that could be caused by parasites. Flukes - Small red spots on skin and/or fins; Fish scrape on objects in tank; Gills hang partially open and pump fast; This is a condition that could be caused by parasites. Grey/White Slime - Appearance of grey/white film on all or part of body; This is a condition that could be caused by parasites.
Q. Anchor Worms - Tiny, threadlike worms hang from body of fish. What do I do?	A. Use Pond Anchors Away to removes anchor worms and other parasites such as fish lice and copepods commonly found on pond fish.
Q. Ick (white spot) - White, sugar-like crystals on fins and/or body of fish; This is ick, or white spot. What do I do?	A. Use Pond Ick Guard to clear ick (white spot) fast on pond fish; Also guards against secondary infections as a result of wounds left by the ick parasite; No need to raise the water temperature.

Back to top