Dying Weather Loach

[MrNiceGuy]

I had a weather loach that seemed active and healthy until I added a couple silver dollars to the tank. In just a few days they tore up his top fin pretty bad. I took the two silver dollars out when i noticed. Since then my weather loach has been much less active, but it wasn't until today that he has shown signs of death. I thought I saw his last seconds today. He started to swim unbalanced and his barbels were not pointed outward as usual... instead they were motionless, just flowing with the water. Then he started to lie still on the top of the water. Thinking he was dead, I took the net out.. but when I touched him he swam away and hid. He's now in some awkward position at the bottom of the tank. He's not eating and I'm pretty sure he's on his way out. Is their anything that can be done? and if not, is their any less painful way I can end his death prematurely?

 

[tenohfive]

I've asked for the mod's to move this to Tropical Emergencies - hopefully Wilder or one of the crew in there will give you some answers. In the meantime, a big water change never hurts.

 

[Colin_T]

as mentioned a water usually helps but you can add some Melafix and perhaps some "Waterlife Myxazin" or Triple/ Tri Sulpha. Be careful with the Myxazin as it can be harmful to scaleless fishes like loaches if it is overdosed. And just keep everyone away from the loach so it doesn't suffer any more stress.

 

[shelaghfishface]

is the weather loach in a heated tank - i assume it is as you say that silver dollars are with him, weather loach are cold water fish, they can adapt in nature but keeping them in artifically heated tanks is a definate no no, they get sick and more prone to infection by keeping them this way, you need to move him to a cold tank, maybe even rehome him ..soon