I'm in agreement with you Lee, the virus surely must live outside the host,
otherwise how is it transmitted between them? Supposedly we had one
backyard dealer do her personal pond in by using the same net from Q-tank
to established pond without sterilizing it.

Regarding koivet and goldfish, it has been reported to the KHA's that this
was a misprint.

Perhaps Tom can enlighten us, because my understanding is at lower temps
the virus goes dormant in the fish. Why it is suggested to allow the Q-tank
to get up in the 70s a couple of weeks w/canary koi, before pronouncing the
all clear? ~ jan

On 18 Sep 2003 11:13:06 -0500, "Lee Brouillet" wrote:

I wasn't blaming goldies, for Pete's sake! And I did say that it was an
accepted theory that without a host, the virus dies off in a few days. To my
knowledge, the virus affects only koi - that's why it's called Koi Herpes
Virus (actually, the Israelis now want the name changed, as they don't think
it's a herpes virus any more, but that's a different subject). Goldies are
not affected by it, and to the best of my knowledge - are not carriers of
it. In fact, that's one of the best ways to narrow down the diagnosis field:
the koi die, the goldies don't.

For argument's sake, however: something just horribly killed all the koi in
your pond, but left other fish surviving. Would you jump to add more koi, or
would you hedge your bets that just MAYBE the other fish - while
unaffected - may/could be carriers? Would you just figure on waiting 72
hours before repopulating your pond, because after all, the virus is DEAD
now - or perhaps you would add a few "canaries" to find out if they thrived
or died before you added valued stock? Remember now that entire commercial
facilities have been depopulated (a euphimism if I ever heard one) and
scrubbed with chlorine several times before reintroducing stock (overkill
perhaps, but what is being done nonetheless). Would it really be paranoia to
at least *suspect* that maybe some of the virus could be hiding in your
plants, rockwork, or whatevers? If the possibility didn't exist, why don't
the commerical facilities just wait a week or so?



I (obviously) have not read EVERY word on the subject, but I try to read as
much as I can. I have not read anything that *definitively* excludes the
*possibility* of carrier status benign to the goldies as most of the studies
have been directed at the affected fish: koi (and most of my reading is
directed at koi as I don't have any goldies). If you have read such a
study - and I say this without ANY rancor - I would like to read it so I can
eliminate future cautionary statements from any recommendations I may make.
When I make errors, I prefer caution to recklessness. I am a hobbyist, not
an aquaculturist. And I am always learning.



Lee





"Tom La Bron" wrote in message
...
Folks,

Where is the research that says the Goldfish carry the virus. All
research
that I have read said that it does not affect the goldfish in any way and
that they do not carry the disease. Sounds like someone is looking for an
escape goat. Nothing like blaming it on the goldfish. The research that
I
read and the researcher I talked about said that the herpes virus will not
live outside the host.

Also muffin, if you are worried about the pond put off getting your new
fish
until next spring, because even inside the fish the KHV will not live in
cold water. It dies when the temps go below 50.

I guess I will have to go to KOIVet and raise hell. Nothing like blaming
crap on the goldfish.

Tom L.L.
==========================
"Lee Brouillet" wrote in message
...
The stores/breeders *do* disinfect with chlorine - *EVERYthing* that
comes
in contact with the infected fish, including nets. Plants are suspect.
Goldies and other pond fish are suspect, and you can't disinfect because
of
them. Two alternatives come to mind: a) build another pond, koi only; or
b)
skip koi and do goldies only. The goldies are nicer for a watergarden
(they
don't tear up plants like koi do!). This disease is one of the primary
reasons why the new mantra is "quarantine - quarantine - quarantine".

Good luck, Muffin.

Lee
"*muffin*" wrote in message
...
the dealer, in Florida, had his stock checked at some university.. it
was
confirmed.( he got a bad shipment)
(I'm in Ohio)

I have been also told you need to disinfect everything with chlorine,,
which
is something I cannot do at this time.

I am soooo confused. thought of losing another $200 worth of fish
does
please me.

I can segregate a few fish, but even that will not stop them dying
when
I
FINALLY do put them in the pond, so that doesn't seem like that is
worthwhile to do.
guess DO it, & see what comes,,, then decide if keeping the goldfish
is
worth it, of chuck every thing & start over..


"Lee Brouillet" wrote in message
...
Muffin, whether or not goldfish can be carriers is an "unknown" at
this
time. It's an accepted theory that without a host, the virus dies
off
in
the
pond after several days. But you still had goldfish, so it's "iffy".
It's
also unproven as to whether or not the "heat cured" fish remain
carriers.
It's kinda like when you got chickenpox as a kid: you got over it -
but
you
are 70% more likely to develop shingles as an adult (same
stuff/different
place), and the older you get (70's, 80's, etc.), the likelihood
increases.
Your new fish may be OK, or they may get sick from the goldies if
the
goldies are "shedding" the virus without getting sick themselves
(think
Typhoid Mary). In your position, I'd watch my "sacrificial" koi
very
carefully and keep the "good" koi in isolation, away from any
potential
problem until I was reasonably sure that that all was well in the
pond.

Was KHV an official diagnosis? Where are you located?

Lee


"*muffin*" wrote in message
...
well, I lost several new purchased koi & the ones IN my pond to
KHV
6
weeks
ago.
the shipper is replacing the fish,,(thankfully) but it is a PIA..
luckily
I
did NOT have a large assortment of ones in my pond already.

(ok do NOT yell at me,, for not quarantine...... new pond,, fish
IN
the
pond
were mostly 10 cent goldfish)(all my goldfish were unaffected)

anyway..... 3 weeks ago I put in 2 'store' koi.. they seem to be
doing
happily.
but I read on koivet,, that goldfish can carry KHV........
so am I 'screwed'???? can I expect them to kick off? anyone else
have
any
problems?luck

(at least I read heat can 'probably' save them)













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