Gasping Loach

[Uboat304]

Hi All

I have a 60 litre tank, 6 tetras, 6 danios, 1 shrimp, 1 bristlenose and 3 loaches.

The 3 clown loaches were added last week, and I noticed one had whitespot . I caught it early (I think) and none of the other loaches, or other fish had any signs...

I raised the temperature, and started treatment with WS3 (malachite green). Since then, the spots seemed to have nearly vanished, which is great. But today I noticed the Loach that had whitespot is now hiding all the time and gasping a lot (gills are going much faster than the other loaches), he's also faded in colour (grey I think on the nose) and the fins look a bit pale / white around the edges.

Water stats seem to be fine, but I have no testing kit handy. I've added some 'easy balance' which is supposed to help sort out any levels of nitrates etc. Temp is at 28 degrees.

Does anyone have any experience / information relating to this, I hate not knowing what to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[WILDER]

That tank way overstocked clown loaches need large tanks even when little of 50 gals.
I would take the clown loaches back to the lfs.
Water change bad stats more than likey with being overstocked, increase areation in the tank.

 

[Uboat304]

That tank way overstocked clown loaches need large tanks even when little of 50 gals.
I would take the clown loaches back to the lfs.
Water change bad stats more than likey with being overstocked, increase areation in the tank.

Thanks for your reply. I was told by the shop that the tank is no way near overstocked?

I have quite a large 'splash' from the water from the filter, how else would I increase aeration?

 

[WILDER]

I would change lfs as he given you some terrible advice.
No way should them clown loaches be in that size tank.
Sounds like a juwel tank, if so you will need to buy a airpump and airstone.
With whitespot you have to increase aeration as the high temp and med reduce 02 in the water.
Also clowns are funny with parasite med as they are scaless fish, did you half dose the med.

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34953

 

[Uboat304]

I would change lfs as he given you some terrible advice.
No way should them clown loaches be in that size tank.
Sounds like a juwel tank, if so you will need to buy a airpump and airstone.
With whitespot you have to increase aeration as the high temp and med reduce 02 in the water.
Also clowns are funny with parasite med as they are scaless fish, did you half dose the med.

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34953

It is a juwel tank - I'll get an airpump and airstone - thanks.

I halved the med dose yes, and took out the charcoal bit in the filter. Do you think the gasping is down to lack of o2 then? Its mouth is always open and gills moving very fast. Or is it the whitespot thats doing it?

 

[WILDER]

Lack of 02 in the water with the med, will have to get that pump fast.
Also take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
With the gasping hope they make it as there in a bad way.

 

[Uboat304]

Lack of 02 in the water with the med, will have to get that pump fast.
Also take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
With the gasping hope they make it as there in a bad way.

Hmm, just been reading that the gasping is a symptom of the white spot... lfs is not so bothered / helpful - I think I should find another...

I'll continue treatment, reduce the level of water to create more surface agitation and do a 20% water change...

 

[WILDER]

Once fish gasp with whitespot the parasite has done the damage to the gills.
Fingers crossed for you and good luck.

 

[Uboat304]

Once fish gasp with whitespot the parasite has done the damage to the gills.
Fingers crossed for you and good luck.

Damn Thought I'd caught it in time.

Thanks for your help.

 

[WILDER]

The gasping can be whitespot, bad water quality, to lack of 02, its one of them three.

 

[Uboat304]

The gasping can be whitespot, bad water quality, to lack of 02, its one of them three.

So, nothing I can do except:

- Increase o2 levels by getting air pump / airstone.

- Doing a water change to improve water quality.

- Continuing white spot treatment.

As long as Im doing everything I can to help...

 

[WILDER]

Yes thats fine.
If you do a water change you have to add the correct amount of med back to the water removed.

 

[Uboat304]

Yes thats fine.
If you do a water change you have to add the correct amount of med back to the water removed.

Ok, I need to add the med tomorrow anyway (should be every 48 hrs) so I'll do a water change then, and add the med.

Poor loach - does not look in a good way at all, gone v. grey / dull and taking refuge - very sad.

 

[kev350d]

Sorry to hear the problems your having with your clowns, they are fantastic fish, be ultra carefull when purchasing these fish in future, ive travelled to 5 different lfs in the last week trying to find healthy examples, alot look fine but when i return 2 days later to purchase they all show signs of ich so ive resorted to putting off until the quarentine tank is empty then i'll get some and treat them regardless (they all look clean at 1st) read up on articles about ich (whitespot) and understand how the parasite's life cycle works only then will you be able to act against it.. (As Wilder so kindly pointed out to me) when the spots dissapear its just another part of the cycle and your troubles are just starting as alot of people think it has cleared up and give up on treatment, when infact it is multiplying in your tank ready to attach itself to your fish..

I use the head off a fluval 4+ (sometimes the filter aswell) with the top just breaking the water in the 60 as i found the juwel stock item to be pretty lame..

When things settle I run the stock juwel item in the 60 aswell as 2 small foam filters (very cheap) powered via a small air pump and only run the fluval when undergoing treatment to break the waters surface up.

Really though i would think twice about keeping loaches in the Rekord 60 my clowns have the full run of the trigon 350 and they use it to its full as they are probbably the most active / nosey fish in the tank and love to play.

Mine when purchased struggled as their gills were red and inflamed a day later the spots appeared but luckily enough i treat them in time (although it did spread to other fish) all is ok, i must add, i treat according to the instructions then carried out a 30% water change then added one extra dose 4 days later whilst mainting a temp of 30°, there is now no sign of the parasite or any symtoms from the fish. I did use protozin at the full dose rate but unless you have a large aquarium and plenty 02 then i would follow other treatment as there's mixed feelings regarding protozin and clowns (worked ok for me but that may be a one off)..

 

[WILDER]

The clown is grey colour because he stressed bless him.