HELP. Sick clown loach

[Tan073]

My clown loach initially showed signs of overeating and bloat. Started 3 days ago. Overate bloodworms. Now it seems it is in a lot of pain. Not swimming and curling it's body around. Seems to shake when moving. Even popping it's face barbs out which looks like pain reaction. I fed some peas on day 2 but not sure if it ate. Belly has gone down a little but still seems in pain. Still showing color but slight grey in black area. Performed water changes every other day. Water parameters good. Ammonia:0, Nitrites 0, nitrates under 10ppm.
Tank is 40 gallon, heavily planted withwood. Tank been set up for 3 years so well cycled. All other fish okay. Might put in qurantine tank tonight. Is it constipation or worse?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eEnENUOwam6CLsnciAg5DE02eGN8TrXG/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[Colin_T]

Frozen bloodworms can be an issue sometimes. The bloodworm (Chirominid midge larvae) have a very hard head that can cause blockages in fish. They can also carry a lot of bacteria and make fish sick from an internal infection.

You can try adding Epsom salts to the tank at 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of tank water. Leave the fish in that for a day and see how it goes. You can add the Epsom salts to the main tank if you don't have a spare tank to treat the fish in. If there is no improvement after 24 hours you can double the dose to 2 heaped tablespoons per 20 litres.

If you do have a spare tank then set it up with water from the main tank and move the fish into it. Aerate the water and put a piece of wood or something in the tank for the fish to hide under.

If you have to lift the fish out, keep it in water. Catch it in a net and then put a small plastic container under the net and lift the fish out in the water so there is no weight or pressure on its body. If the fish is in pain, the less it moves and the less pressure on it, the less it will hurt.

--------------------
If the fish still isn't better in a couple of days you can try treating it with Metronidazole. This is a medication for people so should be used only in a last resort. There are several medications for fish that contain this drug and it can help treat internal infections. But try the Epsom salts first.

If the fish eats then that is good. If the fish doesn't eat then it is bad.

 

[Tan073]

Thanks for the reply @Colin_T
Unfortunately the fish died last night. Broke my heart as I had it for 2 years. I thought about the epsom salts a couple of days ago and wish I tried it.

 

[Byron]

As the fish died, it is worth mentioning something, and that is that this species absolutely must have a group, at least five, sometimes four works but five is preferable. Loaches are highly social fish. Not having others (your initial post leads me to think there was just the one, correct me if not) is highly stressful to this fish, and that weakens them, which may well have been part of the issue.

This fish grows to 8 inches and should have been close to that after two years, but it then grows to close to 12 inches, or should. This means at least a 6-foot tank for a group of five, and 8-feet would be better for the fish. If this is not possible, please do not get one of these to replace the dead clown loach. There are other loach species that could work in a 40 gallon tank, not many but a few. But not clowns.

And on the bloodworms, Colin is right; these should never be fed more than once a week to any fish. Use them as a treat, but not staple food.

Welcome to TFF.

 

[NickAu]

Sorry to hear the fish died.

On Feeding Clown loaches.

They also need vegetables in their diet, they love zucchini.

 

[Colin_T]

sorry to hear the fish died