Ill / Dying Clown Loach

[SimoUK]

Hi guys

I have 2 clown loaches in my 45 gal, at first they were doing great very lively and active, then all of a sudden one has completely dissapeared and is nowhere to be seen...

and the one i usually see is now dying,

laying on his side and then having spurts of activity before laying on his side again,

I have noticed that he has red spots on his gills, some kind of disease?

No abnormal behaviour gfrom any other fish...

And water parameters are perfect as i tested erlier.

Wats wrong? plz help

Simo any replies greatly appreciated!

 

[SimoUK]

after i tested with my seemingly VERY innaccurate strip test kit which showed perfect paras i decided to use my liquid just to be sure and it would seem that i have a VERY HIGH Nitrate reading...

should i do an immidiate water change.|?

 

[Matt_northants]

If the nitrates are high I would definately do a large water change. Why are they high what is your routine maintenance? How much do you feed?

Of course the high nitrate reading could be from the dead clown loach.

 

[SimoUK]

yeh i do 15% water change every week,

and i have just done a 25%

And i agree that it is prabable that the other clown loach dying was the reason for the sudden increase in the toxicity, but i could not find the other clown loach anywhere when i lifted the usual 'hiding spots'

I take full credit for the death of the latest clown loach

Note to self: I should have been more observant

 

[WILDER]

How many fish and which type.
Can you post water stats please in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

The spots how big are they. Are they the size of a pin prick mark or bigger.
Any fluid in the spots.
Any whiteness to the spots.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, erratic swimming, darting,
Red spots can be bacterial to parasites.