Question
Hi, please help - I have a Orfe bout 15" in size, currently only being able to swim on it's side and a twisted shape body - almost like an 'S' shape, no other external faults apart from a redder then normal back fin.

Pond has 4 other orfe all fine aswel as 12 Koi, few gold fsh and 2 Tench. All other fish seem happy and normal. Therefore can't see why anything wrong with this Orfe.

Pond is 14fx3fx3f and has a net over it - we have no problems with Cats/birds etc so wouldn't have thought the fish has been attacked - plus it has no marks on it to suggest it has - Any suggestions/advise would be greatly appreciated as don't want to loose this fish

Thanks,

Answer
I too have a bent orfe in my pond.  The bending can be due to physical injury, shock (voltage in the water from a faulty pump, etc.), lightning, fish tuberculosis (my aquarium fish have it so that's a possibility in my case), vitamin deficiency, etc.  I'm not sure why my orfe is bent so I can only guess about your orfe.  A few months ago, one of my other orfe (I only have 3 that are about 18" long) started hanging out in the shallows, upside down.  Somehow he's still alive, not being eaten by raccoons somehow.  I don't know what happened to him.  If I did, maybe I'd have some insight into your orfe's dilemma.  Since you have so many fish, it may have been a physical injury.  I doubt either of our orfe will improve but they may live like this for a long time.

I calculate your pond to only be less than 900 gallons.  Is that right?  That's really not big enough for more than one koi, and you have 12.  I hope they're still small.  I would rule out water quality issues in your case by testing the pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and oxygen levels.  A water change couldn't hurt.  Add dechlorinator and some pond salt too.  I wish I had more ideas and could help.

Robyn
fishpondinfo.com