A word on the type of Salt we are talking about .. this is normal household 'Cooking Salt' which is available at any good supermarket or cash and carry warehouse as well as the good old corner shop.

There is clear evidence that salt in small quantities, and we are talking about 5% or 1/2 ounce to the gallon of pond water is very beneficial to our Koi and other pond fish .. and it is used very widely as an antiseptic treatment. Salt helps to keep the gills clear which is of course extremely important to the well being of the fish and cannot do any harm to any of your pond fish .. so it is well worth considering maintaining your pond with this mild solution of salt .. There are Salt Testers available from us that will enable you to maintain the dosage rate at the desired level and these of course are invaluable when it comes to giving a fish a salt bath where the saline solution is important to the fish and the time treatment being administered.

Salt as a Salt Bath (short term) ..

Giving any Koi a salt bath is something that most koi hobbyists, and professionals, will have to do from time to time.. and sometimes is the only way to clear the problem with our Koi ... care must be taken to not overdose the salt measure and this is where an accurate saline meter is extremely important to the novice .. too little salt will probably not cure the problem - on the other hand too much salt can do more harm than good - so please be careful ... but generally salt baths may contain anywhere from 7% up to 20% and in extreme cases as much as 35% but that is a very dangerous level and the fish must not be left in a solution of that strength for more than a few seconds at a time .... Air Stones must be used in conjunction with any salt bath treatments .. this keeps the oxygen level safe as the effect of high salt content may deplete the oxygen levels .. the diffusion from the air stone also helps to circulate the water mixing the salt all the time and not allowing it to settle in clumps at the bottom of the bowl where it is not doing any good for the fish. Always stay with the koi whilst it is being treated in a salt bath and if you see signs of stress or if the Koi begins to lay over on its side .. then return the fish immediately to the pond ... Never leave a fish in a salt bath for any reason - unless you wish to return to find a dead fish ...

If you are unsure how strong a solution to use to help cure a possible problem then please contact me and I will do my best to help you out.