I'm worried...

[David]

I'm a bit worried, as lately my 2 bigger clown loaches have been hiding much more than usual. They spend the entire day hiding in their log, and the little one only comes out occasionally. What should I do?

EDIT: PS All they other fish are pefectly normal, even the discus...

 

[kevin007]

...sound like they are stressed or..NOT HEALTHY!

 

[David]

Ha...ha... really dude, I don't need any crappy advice like that, especially from you.

 

[David]

Anyway I just shook the log around a bit to get them out, and they came, but the biggest one is looking incredibly pale (his stripes are like light grey with the orange showing through) and he is just sitting in one place and breathing. i hope he gets revived soon.

 

[Leslie]

Has anything changed at all in the tank such as moving things around or adding new fish? What about people walking around the tank?

 

[Opcn]

It could be the fact that these schooling fish sshould not be kept in such small numbers.

 

[David]

You can keep 3 clown loaches... and they have been fine for the past week and a half I've had them. Nothings changed since then.

 

[Leslie]

Clown Loaches can be skittish when first in the tank but the fact that he's so pale indicates stress of some sort. Check him out very closely as they are prone to certain diseases like Ich. You probably already know all this stuff but just trying to help you figure out what might be wrong with the poor Clownie.

 

[Final Dynazty]

Yeah they are a schoolin fish so you probaly need 4 and there probaly just stressed out so just do some test and stuff.

 

[David]

Ok he's getting better... his stripes are a lot darker now. Yes, I know they are susceptible to ich, in fact they had it when I bought them and I cured them of it. I dunno what's wrong, they used to be so active and outgoing, but now they just like to hide in their log. And the minimum for clowns is 3, so I have enough.

EDIT: PS I'm about to do a water test to see if anything is wrong.

 

[David]

OMG... I found the problem... ammonia zero, but for some reason nitrite is incredibly high, over 1! How the heck did this happen? I haven't added any new fish for a week!!!

 

[Phantom Thief]

Are you sure your tank was cycled properly?

P.T.

 

[David]

Yes, when I tested a week ago the nitrite was 0. But then again, I did quarantine 2 of my fish for several days, so I guess putting them back caused a nitrite spike... dammit I shouldn't have done that...

 

[Final Dynazty]

I would take a already cycle filter cartrage and put it in that tank.

 

[David]

I told you, it already is cycled... and besides, I don't have another. I will be doing a 50% water change tommorrow, wish me luck.