Ill Clown Loach

[lilmisstrouble]

Hey guys,

So, I'm waiting for my LFS to take on my clown loaches (the tank is too small for them). In the meantime, they are kipping in the tank. They have been fine for ages. My BF and I went away on hol for 3 weeks, and they were being fed daily, when we got back we changed the water (so it was not changed a week longer than usual) 25% water change as per usual, all the usual stress coat, anti-chlorine stuff put in etc etc

And now, my little clown loach seems really unwell. He has always been the runt of the group, but now he is sticking to the front of the tank where there is no protection, he has 2 funny marks on his side (like bumps) and he is clamping his fins.

Any advice on how I can treat him or what he has? I'm worried about him!

 

[mikev]

Sounds somewhat similar to what happened here.

About three months ago the smallest loach of the four we had started developing strange bumps which became sores a few days later (possibly because of his scratching against the rock). He usually had one at a time and every time the disease seemed cured it would come back a few days later. Sores that developed all looked a bit different (one as a scratch, one as ick, one as fungus) -- possibly different *secondary* infections which he got because he was already weakened by the *main* disease. But no other fish in the tank was infected.

About two weeks ago, his behavior changed, he started staying away from the group AND hanging in the open places for long time without moving. About a week ago, I noticed fin damage, and assumed that some other fish bit him (not that I saw it happening). Two days ago, I've isolated him inside a small "cage" inside the tank to prevent anyone doing more damage, but yesterday noticed yet more fin damage (with nobody around to bite him???---perhaps the fin damage was yet another opportunistic infection), and a few hours ago he was dead. (And I was actually relieved--poor fellow was obviously suffering for long time.)

I have absolutely no idea what it was. I *think* I shook off the secondary infections (keeping temp about 80F and using appropriate meds every time) but whatever was the *real* problem there is no way of knowing. I suspect that this may be some kind of internal disease/parasite (what else may cause bumps?). I also suspect that smaller clown loaches are not always "designed" to make it, so from now on I'll try to get larger ones...they seem to be more stable (this one was bought at 1.5", was a bit above 2" when dies).

The other loaches might have felt something wrong when they started rejecting him.

If you have the same problem I had, watch for the secondary infections where the bump is and check the fins (but this in my case came much later). Slightly higher temp seems to help with clowns.

Best of luck, and please let us know what happened.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Hey guys,

So, I'm waiting for my LFS to take on my clown loaches (the tank is too small for them). In the meantime, they are kipping in the tank. They have been fine for ages. My BF and I went away on hol for 3 weeks, and they were being fed daily, when we got back we changed the water (so it was not changed a week longer than usual) 25% water change as per usual, all the usual stress coat, anti-chlorine stuff put in etc etc

And now, my little clown loach seems really unwell. He has always been the runt of the group, but now he is sticking to the front of the tank where there is no protection, he has 2 funny marks on his side (like bumps) and he is clamping his fins.

Any advice on how I can treat him or what he has? I'm worried about him!

Not doing a water change for 3weeks because you were on holiday is a long time, can you post us your recnt ammonia, nitrate and nitrite stats?