Inactive/non-growing/fading Away Loach

[tttnjfttt]

Good god and its more expensive than gold dust.

remeber that is in USD, cut it in half for pounds.

 

[mikev]

Thanks, tttnjfttt.

It is not *that* expensive, and I'd rather part with $15 than watch a fish so skinny as to look like a concentration camp inmate....

You got worm problem too or just a precaution?

 

[tttnjfttt]

thats what i'm working on figuring out at the moment. I have two clown loaches, both new. One is acting great, the other is lethargic, doesn't eat as much, and goes pale very frequently. No signs of physical illness, and since clown loaches are notorious for having internal parasites (worms) i'm leaning that direction, but trying to get something more definitive before i go ahead. He is also a little thinner than the other one, but no where near emiciated. THe best comparison i can give is the other one is nice and round, while this one just has sides that go straight down. If that makes sense. If i can't figure anything out i may just go ahead because besides being the anti parasite med, it will boost all my fish's immune system, so it could help with what ever the unknown problem is.

 

[mikev]

My 2C (had clowns for a while).

Clowns (and other loaches to lesser degree) often have a psychological problem adjusting to a new tank, it may last as long as a 3-4 weeks. In the adjustment period they may hide a lot, gray out, or refuse the food. But from what I've seen so far, this adjustment behavior applies equally to all of them if you have a group (so one happy and one unhappy sounds wrong). If this goes beyond 3-4 weeks, I'd assume that there is a real health problem. If you loaches are small (<2"), adjustment should be faster.

The other possible indicator is the willingness of the healthy one to hang around the other. When one of mine got sick the rest chased him away.

What are you feeding them btw? Frozen (or even live) bloodworms may make them more enthusiastic about eating.

BTW, you do need at least one more (better two) for them to feel comfortably.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I know, i'm gonna add one more instead of the other fish i was thinking about, but i want to wait until i've got health issues worked out. The first one I bought is extremely happy and active. I brought home #2 about 2 weeks later when i realized they were social fish. #2 has greyed out more, and is less active, though of course i start trying to figure him out and he perks up a little. However, his gold is alot paler than #1. I didn't treat them like the parasite article suggests. They are both probably 4", and #1 is really kind to the other one, will even go nudge #2 to try to get it to play. Though i have seen some greying out over food fights.

I feed them all sorts of foods, shrimp pellets, algae wafers, blood worms, bananas (#1 goes CRAZY for them), and peas. I've put cucumber in, but they didn't bother fighting the tiger barbs over it. They also get flakes that fall down from up top.

Thanks for the tips! i am loving these guys. when i get a huge tank, i will definately be stocking several of them.

 

[mikev]

However, his gold is alot paler than #1.

This is probably not an issue, just a variation. The last one of my four is like this -- in fact, I chose him for it, so I can distinguish them better. Behaves exactly like the rest.

Clowns do have some interesting variations, like double black lines, or short-body version, or a different tail shape, shark-like. Probably means that they came from different islands/rivers, but this is impossible to track back.

----

Best of luck with your loach health...

 

[tttnjfttt]

He's definately perked up today compared to yesterday. Though #2 is no where as active as #1.

Speaking of keeping them in groups, i had to go in to the LPS today, and of course i "look" at the fish. Well, now they have a group of three. I found one who was extremely active and dark looking, so i had to get him. my bad

 

[mikev]

He's definately perked up today compared to yesterday. Though #2 is no where as active as #1.

Give him a bit of time if you had him only for a short while. Also, don't expect them being equally active; in my pack the biggest --the boss-- is the least active. Also, prefers to eat alone: takes the food to a hiding place.

i had to go in to the LPS today

Heh-heh. Congradulations. OK, one more and you will have the right size. Then all you'll need is a 200g tank.

 

[tttnjfttt]

yup. Some time this summer i should hopefully up grade to a 125 gal. I almost did this a few months ago (found one that was a STEAL) and have been kicking my self ever since.

Gotta love, the one i got was picked out for his activity level, and the second i released him, he goes into hiding and hasn't been seen since. He should perk up sonn though.

 

[mikev]

Gotta love, the one i got was picked out for his activity level, and the second i released him, he goes into hiding and hasn't been seen since

-- well, this is what a healthy clown should do. Since you have non-hiding loaches in the tank already, I'd guess 72 hours or less before he figures out that the place is safe.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I figured as much, as my otherse did the exact same thing. I've seen him a little bit today. Actually, quite a bit in the past 10 minutes. He's such a cut little guy. He has even been named - Junior (atleast for now)