Aggressive Clown Loaches

Uboat304

New Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Messages
26
Reaction score
0
Hi All

I had three clown loaches, but unfortunately one died due to whitespot. Now one of them is constantly chasing the other around the tank, and what seems to be 'nipping' at the fin of the other. Now the other clown loach (the one that gets chased) has what seems to be fin rot in the top fin....

I am trying to treat with Myxain - have done 5 days now (but wasn't sure whether to remove the charcoal filter or not?)... Its difficult to tell if it is getting worse or not, but it certainly hasn't got better.

Would love some advice on:

a) the aggressive, if it is, clown loach
b ) treating the fin rot in the best way - and if it is likely to get cured?

Many thanks
 
I dont know anything about Loaches, but whenever you treat water with some sort of med, make sure you do remove the carbon filter, otherwise its a waste of time. The carbon just sucks it all up and the medication cant do its job.

Replace the carbon when treatment is completly finished.
 
I dont know anything about Loaches, but whenever you treat water with some sort of med, make sure you do remove the carbon filter, otherwise its a waste of time. The carbon just sucks it all up and the medication cant do its job.

Replace the carbon when treatment is completly finished.
Thanks Rhiannon, thats a big help. I'll do a water change tonight and take out the carbon filter, and start the treatment again tomorrow.

I have read on another forum that loaches like zucchini (courgette), so I've just given them some and it's the first time I've heard them clicking (as loaches do when they get excited apparently!) - they love it!

I was misinformed when I originally got the loaches - as I believe my tank is a bit too small for them (if they were to grow big) - however, I have a feeling that the aggressive loach is either playing, or its being like that because they like to be in packs.

I don't really want to get more loaches as I don't think they are suitable to my tank... :(
 
Clown loaches should be kept as 5 minimum!!
When treating for whitespot, use half the dosage as clowns can react badly to full dose. I just got rid of whitespot and used Waterlifes Protozin at half dose... Remove the carbon filter!!
You really need more clowns in there mate
 
Clown loaches should be kept as 5 minimum!!
When treating for whitespot, use half the dosage as clowns can react badly to full dose. I just got rid of whitespot and used Waterlifes Protozin at half dose... Remove the carbon filter!!
You really need more clowns in there mate

Surley it would be worse to overstock a small tank than have just two clowns?
Now what are your tanks dimensions mate?
Maybe you should consider rehoming them so that they can be in a bigger group of clowns.
Greg
 
Yea of course, sorry did not read that you had a smaller tank....

What size...?
 
Myxazin is a broad spectrum, you need to be using whitespot treatment, invariably clowns get white spot when introduced to a new tank as they are very susceptible to it then. The minimum i would have is 3 but yes 5 is much better.
 
Thanks for all your replies.

Clown loaches should be kept as 5 minimum!!
When treating for whitespot, use half the dosage as clowns can react badly to full dose. I just got rid of whitespot and used Waterlifes Protozin at half dose... Remove the carbon filter!!
You really need more clowns in there mate

Surley it would be worse to overstock a small tank than have just two clowns?
Now what are your tanks dimensions mate?
Maybe you should consider rehoming them so that they can be in a bigger group of clowns.
Greg

Hi Greg - yes this is what I was thinking. . The tank is only 60 litres, as I mentioned before in my original post I was misinformed when I bought the loaches that they would be fine in there :(

I guess they are aggressive as there are too few? I don't really want to rehome them back to the lfs as I don't think they looked after too well there.

How would I find someone locally who would take them on!! Dilemma!

paul-discus Posted Yesterday, 05:06 PM
Myxazin is a broad spectrum, you need to be using whitespot treatment, invariably clowns get white spot when introduced to a new tank as they are very susceptible to it then. The minimum i would have is 3 but yes 5 is much better.

Paul

Not treating white spot (one died from whitespot originally ) this is now fin rot!
 
That sounds like they are just swimming around. Loaches are social (among themselves) fish. The only times they will get aggressive is for dominance. You will see them locking mouths and probably hear some loud clicks. Although it looks and sounds bad, it is not. Neither fish will harm each other. My clowns did their dominance thing the first few weeks of getting home. Now they're all fine.
 
That sounds like they are just swimming around. Loaches are social (among themselves) fish. The only times they will get aggressive is for dominance. You will see them locking mouths and probably hear some loud clicks. Although it looks and sounds bad, it is not. Neither fish will harm each other. My clowns did their dominance thing the first few weeks of getting home. Now they're all fine.

Thanks Ed - thats good to know. However, it doesn't explain the fin rot on the top fin of one of the loaches that I've seen the other loach 'nipping' at (well, which I thought was nipping anyway).

I still have the decision to make wether to get another loach - to make them more comfortable (as they should be in groups), or to 'rehome' them - which is a mission!

60 Litre tank

5 tetras
6 danios (2 leaopard, 4 zebra)
1 shrimp
1 bristlenose
2 zebra loaches
 
Carbon will remove meds, so take out the carbon during treatment. I'm not familiar with Myxain, but Melafix is common for those types of ailments. Otherwise, just make sure the tank water is clean. If the fish are sick/dying, then it's a sign of stress, maybe due to poor water conditions or overcrownded tank. A 60 liter is rather small, especially for clown loaches. They can get to be about 30cm in the wild. You may not see them at that size, but expect to see them at about 18cm. Your children or gran children may see them at 30cm. I would remove the loaches or get a larger tank.
 
Carbon will remove meds, so take out the carbon during treatment. I'm not familiar with Myxain, but Melafix is common for those types of ailments. Otherwise, just make sure the tank water is clean. If the fish are sick/dying, then it's a sign of stress, maybe due to poor water conditions or overcrownded tank. A 60 liter is rather small, especially for clown loaches. They can get to be about 30cm in the wild. You may not see them at that size, but expect to see them at about 18cm. Your children or gran children may see them at 30cm. I would remove the loaches or get a larger tank.


I think you are right. What is happening now is that one loach is very healthy, growing and looking full of life. The other loach is gaunt, skinny and gets chased constantly around the tank by the other loach nipping at it :(

They love courgette, but the smaller one doesn't get a chance, he gets chased away every second. I feel very bad for this. His top fin has degraded, (ie. tattered) and I've been treating the water for 1.5 weeks now but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

You think I should catch both loaches and take them back to the LFS? The lfs is about 20 meteres from my front door - whats the best way to take them (ie. container wise)
Thanks
 
Carbon will remove meds, so take out the carbon during treatment. I'm not familiar with Myxain, but Melafix is common for those types of ailments. Otherwise, just make sure the tank water is clean. If the fish are sick/dying, then it's a sign of stress, maybe due to poor water conditions or overcrownded tank. A 60 liter is rather small, especially for clown loaches. They can get to be about 30cm in the wild. You may not see them at that size, but expect to see them at about 18cm. Your children or gran children may see them at 30cm. I would remove the loaches or get a larger tank.


I think you are right. What is happening now is that one loach is very healthy, growing and looking full of life. The other loach is gaunt, skinny and gets chased constantly around the tank by the other loach nipping at it :(

They love courgette, but the smaller one doesn't get a chance, he gets chased away every second. I feel very bad for this. His top fin has degraded, (ie. tattered) and I've been treating the water for 1.5 weeks now but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

You think I should catch both loaches and take them back to the LFS? The lfs is about 20 meteres from my front door - whats the best way to take them (ie. container wise)
Thanks


Forgot to ask - they have nowhere specific to hide at the moment, they generally chose the corner of the tank behind one of the bigger plants. Do you think a nice place to hide would reduce stress. I'd quite like to see the smaller loach in a better state before moving him anywhere!
 

Most reactions

Back
Top