Unhappy Clown Loaches

[loz_the_guru]

I purchased a pair of small clown loaches for my 2ftx1ftx18in tank a few days ago and promptly fell in love with them both. Theyve been very active friendly fish, often swimming to the front of the tank as if to say hello.

Until now that is.

For the last few hours theyve been lying on the bottom, hardly moving and looking very sorry for themselves. I know that lying on their sides is fairly standard for these loaches, however theyre lying on their bellies and dont seem to move at all.

The tank is fully mature, I recently inherited it from a friend (who hadnt been taking the best care of it tbh), and swapped some of the fish for others at my local shop after giving it a good clean.

The only thing thats happened which I can think of is adding a group of five neon tetras, as well as adding two jugs of thoroughly aireated (standing for 3 days + bubbled through for around 3 hours) water to top up the tank (it was half full when ive got it and I didnt want to kill the filter media).

All of the other fish in the tank (two guppies, 2 rummy nose tetras, 8 neons and a ancistrus) seem fine. I hadnt seen the loaches taking food but I just dropped in some bloodworm and they had a good munch.


Im really worried about them, anyone suggest a remedy/hint at the problem? I dont have any testing kits and cant get to the shop until tomorrow!

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is your tank.
Clown loaches need large tanks as they get bigger 90 gal.
First thing to look at is water quality and without water stats can't say.
I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
Do the clown loaches look thin in appearance.

 

[loz_the_guru]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

The tank is around 20 gallons, I realize this is fairly small but theyre currently only around 1 1/2 inches each, not the 12 they will reach given 10 years. However I am aware I will need to upgrade in time, and will move them into my friends 80 gallon when necessary.

As I say I cant get a water stat reading until tomorrow, but the tank is fully matured and I see no reason for anything to have gone wrong, bar the possible addition of two jugs of water.

Theyre fairly thin but by no means emaciated. As I say theyre only small.


Are my lfs likely to be happy about testing the water free of charge?

 

[WILDER]

They shouldn't be thin.
Some lfs will test for nothing or some will charge one pound in the uk.
I would get your water tested to make sure water quality fine.
[URL="http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm"]http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm[/URL]

Taken from the link as I just want to make sure.



Loss of weight or "skinny disease" is also quite common in Clown loaches. Typical symptoms are loss of weight and behaviour known as "knifeback" even though the fish is acting and eating normally. This sickness is more difficult to treat, it comes from a parasite organism (spironucleus) in the intestines of the same type that is thought to cause the so called "discus disease". I have successfully removed this disease from newly imported fish by using Spirohexol from JBL in the form of tablets. I have taken one tablet and crushed it and dissolve it in as little water as possible. I have then used discus granules which have been soaked in the solution. It becomes like a thick porridge after a short time when the food has drawn in the liquid. I then feed this to the sick fishes, after a week it looks like the sickness is gone. For the best possible effect do not feed with any other food. Flagyl (Metronidazole) also helps fight against this sickness but at least here in Sweden it is on prescription and can be a little difficult to come by.

 

[loz_the_guru]

Having seen stomach parasites before i'm fairly sure this isnt the problem in this particular instance.

Ive just come down to check on the pair and found them lodged in a piece of bogwood. The whole they'd managed to get trapped in was so small I didnt even notice it so I cant imagine it was much fun in there for the pair of them.

Anyway, ive a new problem: Ich. Ive been doing a bit of reading this morning and it seems that I need a half dose of treatment, which luckily I do have on hand. They certainly weren't showing any signs so hopefully ive caught it early enough.

Does anybody have any tips for me regarding my action from now? I've not yet administered the dosage as I wanted to get a bit of advice here first. I've also heard about hot water treatment, which seems to involve raising the temperature above 26 degrees C. Anyone give me some more info on this? this thread has already been very useful but I know clown loaches can be more sensitive to treatments than other fish.

 

[WILDER]

Whitespot will look like the clowns have been sprinkled in salt.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing?
Or spots the size of a grain of salt.
You raise temp to 30 then add the med, you have to half dose with clown loaches.
Increase aeration as the high temp and med reduce 02 in the water.
Treat up to another week after spots have fallen off.
Remove black carbon from filter if you use it.

 

[loz_the_guru]

definitely white spot, rubbing and flicking aplenty too.

Have raised temp, done water change + added the med, but now one is worse than ever, not moving very much.

Dont know what else to do

 

[WILDER]

There isn't anything else to do.
Just keep fingers crossed they pull through.
Good luck.