Very Emaciated And Lethargic Pakistani Loach

[VickiandKev]

My partner took me to a new LFS today as a surprise (yes, we're that sad lol), and we saw some pakistani loaches there and decided to get a few. Stupidly I didn't inspect them very carefully once the attendant had caught and bagged them as I'd thought the whole tank looked very healthy. Got them home and one of them is severely emaciated, he looks paper-thin when he goes up the sides of the tank and he's quite lethargic.
Both fish are teeny - 3cm max in length - one is much better than the other.
I don't have the heart to take the poorly one back so for now he's in a hatchery (with his little mate) with some tubifex, brine shrimp, a complete loach wafer and plenty of plant cover.
Tomorrow I plan to get a little tank and separate him and his friend off and let them have a little tank of their own, with the food to themselves.

I honestly think this little fish has simply not had enough food - these little loaches were packed in a small show tank with fairly big swordtails and I can imagine that the food barely ever got down to the loaches and when it did, there were so many trying to get it he may not have had much.

What are the other possibilities though? And what can I do for him?
I really want this little fella to survive.

 

[blue acara]

It might have intestinal flagellates i.e internal worms. If its eating feed it plenty and keep the aquarium water good, lots of water changes. No meds yet.
These fish feel secure and like to be in groups 6+. Give them a cave to hide in.

If it is still emaciated in a month you should treat with a wormer like Levamisole Hydrochloride.

 

[VickiandKev]

Thank you for your advice and quick reply

I've just checked on the little guy and he already looks like his belly is a bit fuller and is behaving more normally. He was flat out on his side when we got him back because he was lacking energy so much, but now he's swimming more normally and propping himself on his pectoral fins at the bottom of the hatchery with his little friend.

I'll keep a close eye on him. I do have zebra loaches and clown loaches in the tank I intend to keep them in but realised that they will probably thrive much better with more friends of their own species so I think I'll be going to my other LFS where I have never had any problems with my fish tomorrow to get a few friends for them. Does it matter overly if these friends are a bit bigger?

I have mixed differently sized clown loaches before and they all get along regardless of size but not sure about these guys?

Also, where can I buy the wormer, just so I can get it ready just in case.

 

[blue acara]

Glad its doing well. Im not experianced with interspecies loach behaviour lol so I cant advise you.
You can only get Levamisole from a vet in the UK, US u get it from farm supply type shop.

If you are in the UK and need some send me a pm, I have a big bottle of it I will never use.

 

[VickiandKev]

Thank you ever so much, that's really kind of you. The little guy is better again this morning - during the night his little friend jumped out of the hatchery into the main tank and is busy combing the sand for any morsels but the thin one is behaving better, and looking a little less thin.
I'm thinking I'll keep him in a hatchery for a few more days so that I know he's strong enough to get along in our big tank but I know the bigger loaches will look out for him. I'm thinking it's not internal worms as there's been such a massive improvement simply with feeding some high protein foods.

I'm trying not to get carried away but I hope this little guy survives now and lives to a ripe old age