Stopping comparing, you guys are depressing me.

 

doubt it....seriously

 

you don't need to: 8 months of unemployment can do that

just because i'm running a little business doesn't mean i'm loaded besides, we had a net loss last year.

 

No one can be poorer than a college kid with an "S".

 

ok, it's official, all 3 of my Kois, including the new one i just bought on Thursday are hours away from death. two smaller ones are floating upside down and breathing very very shallow. the new one i got on thursday looks to be the culprit: the damn fish has some kind of wound i didn't see until we got it home, and looks like it infected all my fishes.

 

I keep cold water fish, they can be very frustrating when they die for no apparent reason.

 

Perhaps this can be of some help: http://www.koivet.com/

 

Another good source of info is http://www.click2roark.com

Have you tested your nitrite/nitrate levels? Koi eat (and poop) more than goldfish the same size. Maybe your koi are pushing your filter to its limit and that's effecting the water quality. BTW, where'd you get your fish, Richard? You may want to try and get larger koi, as they're not as sensitive to bad/inconsistent water quality.

The problem I'm having w/ my koi is keeping the dang birds away. Since I put in my pond I've seen a hawk and a blue heron in my back yard--I've already lost one fish that I believe was taken by a bird

 

This sounds like a very likely cause of illness for all of your other fish; it only takes one being diseased to take out all of them! Take all of them back to the store that sold you the wounded one, get your money back, and start over. Do a complete water change and ask another store how else you should prepare your tank for more fish.

Sorry... been there before, and it sucks! We once had a salt water tank, and one ill-advised fish died and took everything else with it, about $500 in some of the most beautiful fish I've ever owned.

 

i called the aquarium that sold me the fish, the A-hole told me in a very rude manner that they don't offer refunds on fishes, nor any damages to my other fishes.

on a side note, my wife's favorite little gold fish is showing symptoms of fatigue and i'm afraid it won't last much longer. should i go buy those antibiotic stuff and add it to the water?