Behaviour & health
Something looks wrong: start here
Behaviour can show a problem before you know its cause. Gather evidence without delaying urgent help.
Urgent signs
Gasping, severe breathing difficulty, loss of balance, rapid deterioration or several affected fish need prompt specialist help. Check safe aeration and circulation immediately. Do not wait for an AI answer during an emergency.
Get the water facts
Record ammonia, nitrite, pH, temperature and other available readings with units. Note recent fish arrivals, feeding changes, cleaning, treatments and weather. Clear water does not rule out a problem.
Avoid guessing a treatment
Similar signs can have different causes. Do not mix medications or add salt without checking the species, diagnosis, actual volume and compatibility. Products suitable for koi may be unsuitable for sturgeon.
Who to contact
Contact an aquatic vet or competent fish-health professional for diagnosis and treatment. WakeyKoi can help with product and husbandry questions. A photograph is useful context, but it cannot confirm parasites or internal disease.
Prepare for a useful consultation
Bring the timeline, affected species, number affected, photographs or video, water results and every treatment already used. Include recent arrivals, equipment failures and maintenance. These details help a professional choose appropriate diagnostics.
Sources & further reading
Original WakeyKoi wording, informed by the references below. Linked clinical resources explain the evidence and their scope; they have not reviewed or endorsed this website.
Related guides
Educational guidance cannot diagnose an individual fish. Breathing distress, severe injury or unexplained losses need prompt professional assessment.