Clown Loach Having Problems?

[happyannie]

I have a 39 gallon tank with 8 female betta, 2 corydoras cats, 1 bristle-nosed plec and 4 clown loaches. The parameters are all good and ammonia is good too. They have hiding places and all seem to be doing very well with the exception of one clown loach. He used to be the leader of the group and now he doesn't school all that much with them, isn't growing and flourishing like they are, doesn't feed in the way he used to, seems to act kinda nutty at times (which they seem to notice too!), and doesn't respond to me like he used to either. He used to be the 1st one out to make a grab for the bloodworms I put out for everybody but now he only seems to search for detris and also scoops along surfaces like he's scooping up small debris on the surface. He used to be friendly with me but doesn't respond to me anymore. His color is really good however and he isn't pale in the least. Last night he was hanging upside down as if he was scooping up stuff off the glass on the side of the tank. The others went up to him and checked him out, the leader rubbed his body against him. (Who said fish are dumb?) I spent an hour trying to catch him to put him in another tank to see if I could get him right again. This seemed to happen after the female betta came in and kind of came on slowly like maybe he wasn't happy with them being in the same tank with him.....?? I had 3 loaches and got one more thinking maybe he'd feel more secure in a larger group... However this did not work.
I spent some long hours observing and trying to capture him last night so am going to ZZZZZ and hope that someone who reads this can help me with this a bit. Thanks in advance! Anne

 

[The-Wolf]

the gist of your post I get is...
your clown is lethargic, stays apart from the rest of the group and has lost his appetite.

you say that your water params are 'good'
what exactly are they?

possible causes of the above symptoms are...
1) Fish may be suffering from a ectoparasite problem. check body for parasites, check gills for paleness & or worms
2) There could be internal bacterial/parasitical problems. can you see any poo, if so is it white and stringy?
3) Early stage of systemic bacterial infection. Isolate and observe.
4) poor water quality & or an unknown toxin in the water.

 

[happyannie]

Well, he's made a liar out of me. He's schooling with them today and is out and about getting bloodworms.
HOWEVER, I'm wondering about the scraping behavior. He scrapes across objects as he's swimming. It's actually quite graceful and I'm wondering if he's shaking detris loose...?? or if he's scratching?? The others are doing really really well so it seems indiviualized to him. I might put him in a small tank for the time being and observe him. It's a trick to capture him with the betta girls in there. They put up a fight when I vacuum or do things in the tank. They acutally bite my hand and get right in the middle of the vacuuming process.
Does anyone know anything about the scraping behavior? His color is super vivid and I don't see any signs of ick. Thanks in advance.

 

[WILDER]

Right I agree with wolf the tank is to small for the clown loaches.
Clown laoches are very prone to internal parasites, has he gone thin, as you said he hasn't grown and that can also be a sign of internal parasites, check his anus also to see if it look enlarged and red and inflamed, also what does it look like when he does go to the toilet.

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

This is taken from that link above.
Loss of weight or "skinny disease" is also quite common in Clown loaches. Typical symptoms are loss of weight and behaviour known as "knifeback" even though the fish is acting and eating normally. This sickness is more difficult to treat, it comes from a parasite organism (spironucleus) in the intestines of the same type that is thought to cause the so called "discus disease". I have successfully removed this disease from newly imported fish by using Spirohexol from JBL in the form of tablets. I have taken one tablet and crushed it and dissolve it in as little water as possible. I have then used discus granules which have been soaked in the solution. It becomes like a thick porridge after a short time when the food has drawn in the liquid. I then feed this to the sick fishes, after a week it looks like the sickness is gone. For the best possible effect do not feed with any other food. Flagyl (Metronidazole) also helps fight against this sickness but at least here in Sweden it is on prescription and can be a little difficult to come by.

Apart from this Clown loaches are not more susceptible than other fish, the above sickness usually occurs in fish that have been stressed during transport or subjected to other stress factors like cold water or poor aquarium hygiene. Do not buy fish that look emaciated! Well looked after fish are seldom sick. To quote my friend Elisabeth Hallberg; "the best way to avoid sickness is to keep the fish healthy".

 

[Coomon10]

Hi please can someone explain the difference between skinny disease and levimasole being advised as treatment and this case where spirohexol is recommended. I have suffered with loaches and a few others getting thin whilst eating and identified it as intestinal worms (through the use of posts such as dog worming tablet')...

TIA

 

[WILDER]

Skinny deasease is often used to describe clown loaches who look really thin, often when you buying them they have internal parasites.
Levimsole is about the best med for internal parasites but it hard to come by as it a pig worming tablet, and also its being used now for cancer treatments.
Though sometimes it can see be to late when you have used the med as the parasite done it worst to the inside of the fish body.
Don't use dog worming tablets they don't work.

Jbl meds are good just looked it up but don't know how good it is as never heard of many using it.
Though it for hole in the head and tryed some of them treatments and they don't always do the job.
So fingers crossed and good luck.