Broken Heater

[lbennet]

Hi guys, my name is Carlos, I started this hobby about a year ago with a 5gal tank with 2 gold fish, now I have a 20gal community tank.
My tanks have given me a lot of pleasure and a some stress too! but so far I love it.

About 3weeks ago my heater lost control and the water stayed on 30 celcius for about 3 days.
All my fish look normal except for the 2 clown loaches, other fishes are
6 platis
2 bloodfins tetra
6 cardinals
1 molly dalmatian
No live plants.

Actually I saw symptoms on the loaches since the beginning of the problem but I never took a look at the thermometer neither touched the water.
the small died within a week, and I thought that the and bigger (almost 3in) was going to die too.

I follow the advice of the LFS and I didn't feed for 3 days with lights off, now the loach is better but is not the same anymore. he's almost not eating or playing, most of the time hiding. when he is not hidden his movements are fast, even to travel just 1 inch.

I want to have your feedback on this, is it possible that he is sad? should I buy 1 or 2 other clown loaches?, or he's still sick?

I really love clown loaches, and I know that when they get bigger i'll have to return them to the lfs, but then i'll get other smaller ones according to my tank's capacity!

regarding the water levels, I only have the ph and the ammomia tests. ph is 7.2-7.4 and ammonia is 0.
I do 1/3 water changes /week

thanks
Carlos

 

[Caprichoso]

Those loaches prefer to be a large group. He may have been damaged by the high temp but it's not helping that he is alone either. I don't recommend putting clown loaches in a 20 gallon as they outgrow it too quickly. It's more enjoyable to have fish that you can actually keep for the long term rather than constantly replacing the big ones for small ones. You should also up the water changes to 50% each week.

Good luck

 

[lbennet]

Those loaches prefer to be a large group. He may have been damaged by the high temp but it's not helping that he is alone either. I don't recommend putting clown loaches in a 20 gallon as they outgrow it too quickly. It's more enjoyable to have fish that you can actually keep for the long term rather than constantly replacing the big ones for small ones. You should also up the water changes to 50% each week.

Good luck

Thanks for your response, I'll buy 1 or 2 Clown loaches and see how it goes.

Regarding the tank capacity, I agree with you, but I'm still "debating" with my wife the upgrade possibility, this brings a new question, whats the appropiate tank capacity to have happy clown loaches? maybe three or four?

Thanks for your response

 

[Tizer]

clown loaches grow very big, you should be looking at a 4 foot tank at least, which means 240 litres/55 gal ish.

while they are small it might seem ok to house them in a small tank, but being able to tell when that tank needs upgrading isnt always that easy and its quite hard to just give away fish you have watched grow for a few years.

 

[Caprichoso]

Personally, I would feel okay about keeping clown loaches in my 140gallon. They get huge! Honestly, I don't agree with growing a fish in a small tank and then letting it become someone else's problem. I agree with Tizer, I could never take care of a cute loach and then say oh well, you are too big now, good-bye! That's just me though. It's your fish, your call.

 

[lbennet]

Personally, I would feel okay about keeping clown loaches in my 140gallon. They get huge! Honestly, I don't agree with growing a fish in a small tank and then letting it become someone else's problem. I agree with Tizer, I could never take care of a cute loach and then say oh well, you are too big now, good-bye! That's just me though. It's your fish, your call.

Thanks for your answers, I already bought a partner for my clown loach, lets wait and see how it goes from now on.

After reading your replies I realized that its logical that it will be tough for me to give back later on a bigger clown loach after seen how worried I was after the heater problem and how worried I'm now with the other sick one. I'm glad I joined this forum.

Thanks,
Carlos