Clamping Fins And Gasping For Air

[lilmisstrouble]

Hey guys. I have one clown loach that seems really ill. He is clamping his fins, gasping for air (at top of tank) and his gills are going nine to the dozen! The other fish (in particular the dwarf gourmai) seem to be nibbling at him ) but have no idea if they actually are as he doesnt look like his fins are being eaten.

Any ideas whats wrong? He's been clamping his fins since yesterday (did water change the day before). All parameters are normal nitrates 0, PH fine etc etc

any ideas what it might be? ASked in the LFS today and they asked me to take in a pic but cant get one through the tank

 

[clunkster]

how long have you had the clown loach ? can you see any thing else on the fish ie any indication of an infection such as whitespot or velvet disease as symptoms of both include increased gill movment

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank, how many fish and which type, clamped fins are sign of a stressed fish, any signs of salt like spots on the fish, flicking and rubbing against objects.

 

[lilmisstrouble]

Um, his skin seems fine, no spots nada, but the dwarf gormai keep going over to bite his side?? He has stopped clamping his fins today, but still seems to be gasping somewhat

I've had this clown loach for a year now, but the tank is too small and I had to wait till now to give them back to the LFS (I aquired another 2 about 6 months ago). They were supposed to be going back on saturday, but wont be till he is better.

He looks like he is emaciated and he is not eating at the mo (last 2 days) but seemed to be eating before that

 

[WILDER]

He's sounding in very bad shape, this is the problem keeping them in small tanks they get stressed in the small enviroments causing stress and desease, can you issolate him, if hes not eating as well, not good.

 

[lilmisstrouble]

Its not tiny... its 150 litre....

Dont have an isolation tank, but I DO have a Betta in a 5 gallon I could put the betta in the big tank (in a big breading net - temp) and then put the clown loach in the betta tank?

I DO really want to help this guy, I'm just not experienced enough to know what to do

 

[WILDER]

That roughly a 30gal still small for clown loaches to say they need a 90gal tank, it up to you but it sounds a bit cramped for him the betta bowl, but he going to die and you don' want him dying in the main tank, was he getting skinny before he stopped eating.

 

[lilmisstrouble]

I know its too small but I had to wait for someone who would take them... the LFS wouldnt take them till this weekend

He was fine until a couple of days ago Happy, running around with the others

 

[WILDER]

Clown loaches can waste away heard of it, if he's farily small i would issolate him, sorry.

Skinny desease it alot further down the page.

http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm

 

[lilmisstrouble]

Thanks for all the advice. Thats a great website.. wish I had seen it before.