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Genesee ValleyPond & Koi Club NewsletterVolume 7 Issue 2 February 2003
Left:
N. "Andre Leu" Tropical Water Lily Lower Left: N. Rubra - Night -blooming Tropical Water Lily Lower Right: V. "Longwood" Night - Blooming
Nau Hear This!Unfortunately, the weather was against us for the group participation in the January planning session meeting. The few staunch members that were able to make it, did help in choosing sufficient topics and proposals to at least get us started with plans for the better part of the year. We will review these in more detail at the February meeting and hopefully receive some additional suggestions to fill in the blank and gray areas. The proposed topics and presentations that were selected and are currently being pursued are as follows: February 7 video on Koi pond construction. March 7 presentation by Greg Young of NFKPC on pumps, plumbing and repairing leaks. April 4 presentation on native bog and swamp plants by Carol Southby. May 2 to be determined. June 6 plant auction to be discussed and possible club space at LilyFest June 7&8. July 4 Holiday- no meeting. The alternate proposals are a field trip or our pond tour in either July or August. August 2 field trip to the Oesterly's house to view their pond, gardens and tropical reef tank. The schedules for topics for the fall meetings -- September 5, October 3 and November 7 are open and hopefully to be determined by suggestions and ideas that we hope that you will submit in the next two meetings. December 5 Christmas party and another round of Pond Jeopardy. As per your request at this past year's party, we may try to provide a prize for the winning team members or the most outstanding participant. Notes: There have been some changes in our plans for the plant auction this year. Due to scheduling constraints, logistics concerns for the club and after consulting with Ray Lucas, we agreed to deferring the combining of his program / product auction with our plant auction until next year. The proposals for field trips that are currently being explored are a trip to see the garden railway display at Irondequoit mall or possibly at an open house by one of railway club's members. The other is the visit to Charles Oesterly's to see his gardens and reef aquarium tank. (This is at the opposite end of the fish keeping scale from our ponds but it is a very interesting and beautiful approach to another aqua culture style.) The final summer activity that we should determine at this month's meeting is to select either July or August as the time for our Pond Tour and picnic. We all hope that you will join us for this meeting and help us to finalize the topics and schedule for this year. So far this has been a most unusual winter. This makes it very difficult to think of our ponds and the club activities when it is so cold and portions of our ponds and gardens are concealed by ice and several feet of snow. But now, unfortunately; is the time for our membership renewal drive. Also, time is running out to keep your membership active and keep your newsletters coming. If we didn't receive your renewal by January 28. you will find another copy of the mini renewal form attached to the newsletter for your convenience. Please consider renewing now while is is fresh in your mind. There is only one month remaining in the grace period. Dues are $25 per year per family at the same mailing address. Here are a few additional dates and items that have been of interest to some of our members in the past. March 1st is the date for the RCGC/ Bruce Zaretsky and Associates "Spring Garden Symposium". The speakers are Rick Drake on "The American Woodland Garden, Capturing The Spirit Of The Deciduous Garden", Bruce Zaretsky on "Art & inspiration in The Garden" and Carol Southby on "Native Plants". (Carol is also the speaker for our April meeting.) GardenScape is planned for March 20-23 and as usual should be a welcome break from the winter blues. This year's theme is "Through The Garden Gate". Two of the speakers should also be of interest to our group. Larry Nau is speaking at 3:00 pm on Sunday on "The Oasis Beyond The Garden Gate; Steps For A Successful Water Garden" and Kurt Bluemel will be discussing "Ornamental Grasses". These are the speakers that II have heard of so far. I hope to have additional information, details and schedules for both of these events by the February 7th meeting A few words of caution also regarding our current weather conditions. In talking to Larry N., he mentioned that he has had several calls regarding fish kills, possibly from the cold or total ice cover or other unfavorable conditions. In view of this, it would be good to check the status of your pond and fish to verify that yours are surviving and doing reasonably well. Be prepared to clear and maintain an opening through the ice and snow if necessary. Also, due to the heavy snow cover, food sources for some of the wildlife are inaccessible. Therefore, they are now eating plants that they would normally ignore as well as the upper portions of plantings that are still above the snow line. If you have used a solid cover over the pond and some of the plantings, burrowing creatures may be enjoying a feast in the warmer areas under the j insulation provided by the cover and snow blanker. We are still looking for new or different pond photos for the color pages of the newsletter. if you haven't submitted a photo of your pond or some of the recent changes that you may have made, please do so as soon as possible. Also, if you have photos in the various seasons, we would be interested in reviewing them -for possible inclusion in a seasonal rotation. The information that we would like to receive with the photo should include owners name, date constructed, constructed by, inspiration for pond, approximate size &/or gallons, pond type, filtration, fish, plants and your comments. Q: What are the red worms that i see from time to time in the filter'' A: Finding these worms are a fairly normal condition. They are most likely bloodworms or tubifex worms. They are harmless unless you apply something or, there are unusual changes in pond conditions that might kill large numbers of them ail at once. The only problem then is from the decay processes which could cause a drop in the available dissolved oxygen. While they may contribute to disease in trout and some other fish, they are not a threat to our koi, goldfish and most aquarium fish. As a matter of fact they are sold as a supplemental fish food and are included in some fish food blends. They show up and are more noticeable in the flier because it is a safer environment for them. Any of them that might show up in the pond would readily be eaten on sight by the fish The following was exerpted from an article in "Koi USA" by Sandra Yosha, DVM. Why Quarantine? "Quarantine is one of the most powerful methods available to date to screen for infectious diseases and organisms of fish and to prevent them from entering the pond or other facility." While it can be relatively inexpensive and yet highly effective, it is not used as frequently as it should be. Some of the reasons listed for skipping this treatment are, unfortunately, all too realistic and perhaps understandable.
All fish, including those determined healthy, are a symptomatic carriers. That means that the fish have a low number of parasites, viruses and/or bacteria that are not causing disease or symptoms at the time of examination. Stress, which suppresses the fish's immune system, can result in a healthy fish suddenly becoming ill. Transport and handling are a great stress to them. Therefore, when the fish becomes ill from one of these pre-existing conditions, the numbers of organisms can increase more easily, thus facilitating the spread of the problem. The fish finally becomes symptomatic and starts to show signs of the disease. "Native fish" or fish already in the pond can become ill when new fish are added because they may, have no immunity to the organisms brought in with the incoming fish Exposure of healthy fish to more common disease causing organisms may not necessarily result in the disease prevailing. It may result in an improved immunity instead, if the exposure is minimal and water conditions are excellent. If, however, it is a fatal disease causing organism, like Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) or Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), it can be contained in quarantine where it will affect fewer fish and therefore cause the least amount of harm. Note too, that the 'carrier fish' might also be the ones already in the pond. In this case, the incoming fish do not have the acquired immunity to the existing pond organisms and due to the stress of moving may be weakened and more susceptible to them. So, what is the suggested quarantine procedure?
There are many reasonable ways to quarantine your fish but there is no "best" method. It must be based on your environment, needs, resources and your desire to protect and maintain your attachment to your native and new fish.
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