Actually I think that they died of the ick treatment...I'm pretty sure I overdid it. No need to scold me, I'm already beating myself up.. My question is how do I make the tank safe so I can get some more clown loaches? The scaled fish in the tank are happy and healthy. Any thoughts?
beloved clown loaches dies of ick
- Thread starter cshdvmart
- Start date
Sorry, I needed to give you more information...
My water quality is good..
I do partial water changes every 3-4 weeks, but much more frequently since the ick outbreak.
Right now my water is 80 degrees and has malachite green and copper in it... I put the charcoal back in this morning when the fish died. I plan to do a partial water change today.
I have a molly, and 3 tetras..they are in prime condition
I really want to keep freshwater clown loaches and I want to do it right.
My water quality is good..
I do partial water changes every 3-4 weeks, but much more frequently since the ick outbreak.
Right now my water is 80 degrees and has malachite green and copper in it... I put the charcoal back in this morning when the fish died. I plan to do a partial water change today.
I have a molly, and 3 tetras..they are in prime condition
I really want to keep freshwater clown loaches and I want to do it right.
Fishsmurf
Fish Fanatic
Cshdvmart,
Sorry to hear about the clowns. Never nice to lose a fish. Clowns are one of my favourites, although not as hardy as they could be.....
First thing to do is get the carbon back out !! Soz. Ich is a parasite that will continue to live in the tank for at least a few days, maybe up to a week, so you need to continue treating for it. Even though it may not be visible it will be in the gravel etc just looking for a new host fish to attach to. Gradually raise the temp up to approx 84f (over a period of 4 - 5 hours) as this will speed up the life cycle of Ich. Carry on the treatment but at half dose but for the prescribed time as per the instructions. This combined with the temp should wipe out any remainingtraces of the Ich. Once completed you can gradually decrease the temp again, replace carbon etc......
Whilst the treatment in finishing off the Ich tell us a bit more about your tank, what size, how long set up, do you have test kits etc, all basic questions but will help in getting you good advice.....
HTH a bit....
Sorry to hear about the clowns. Never nice to lose a fish. Clowns are one of my favourites, although not as hardy as they could be.....
First thing to do is get the carbon back out !! Soz. Ich is a parasite that will continue to live in the tank for at least a few days, maybe up to a week, so you need to continue treating for it. Even though it may not be visible it will be in the gravel etc just looking for a new host fish to attach to. Gradually raise the temp up to approx 84f (over a period of 4 - 5 hours) as this will speed up the life cycle of Ich. Carry on the treatment but at half dose but for the prescribed time as per the instructions. This combined with the temp should wipe out any remainingtraces of the Ich. Once completed you can gradually decrease the temp again, replace carbon etc......
Whilst the treatment in finishing off the Ich tell us a bit more about your tank, what size, how long set up, do you have test kits etc, all basic questions but will help in getting you good advice.....
HTH a bit....
thanks for your reply, fishsmurf.
Yes, I am very sad about my loaches..I was quite attached.
OK, so I will take the carbon back out and treat with the malachite green/ formalin treatment daily, with daily water changes and tank temp set at 84 degrees. After one week(?) put the carbon back in and do a final water change and then I will be ready for loaches?
I still have 3 tetras and a molly in the tank, but they are healthy. I hope this will not stress them too much. I like the loaches best though, and I am most interested in keeping them.
I have a 10 gallon tank (would like to get a larger one of course) and it has been set up for 2 years. I have simple test strips for nitrates, ammonia, ph etc but not a test kit.
I appreciate your help!
Yes, I am very sad about my loaches..I was quite attached.
OK, so I will take the carbon back out and treat with the malachite green/ formalin treatment daily, with daily water changes and tank temp set at 84 degrees. After one week(?) put the carbon back in and do a final water change and then I will be ready for loaches?
I still have 3 tetras and a molly in the tank, but they are healthy. I hope this will not stress them too much. I like the loaches best though, and I am most interested in keeping them.
I have a 10 gallon tank (would like to get a larger one of course) and it has been set up for 2 years. I have simple test strips for nitrates, ammonia, ph etc but not a test kit.
I appreciate your help!
Fishsmurf is mostly right. But it is hard to know until you say what medication(s) you are using.
I'm puzzled at the malachite green AND copper ... that suggests you are combining medications, not a good idea. You are probably correct that the meds along with the ick killed your clown loaches. I know -- I have lost a boatload of them until I put my UV in. However, they are savable.
First, finish treating your tank. If you are combining meds or using a copper med that is not Aquarisol, then what you need to do is leave the carbon in 4-6 hrs and do your water change. Then I'd get a medication that will combat the ick but not overly stress your fish. Since none of your fish are showing signs, what I would do is put the temp up slowly, but maybe only to 82 or so unless you have a way to increase oxygenation as well. Then I'd treat with a mild anti-ick formula for 4 days as long as no white spots are visible on any fish. If you find any, then you have to go untill they are all gone then a few days extra.
There are many mild meds. I prefer Aquarisol as I've had the best success and have not lost any fish to it. Clear Ick by Aquatronics is another good choice. I'd avoid m. green and formalin as long as no fish are showing ick signs. If they do show spots, then Ridich + is a good bet, or Quick Cure if you have no plecos or scaleless left in there.
Wait a good 3 weeks before trying clown loaches. When you get them, buy the fattest (not necessarily the biggest ... you can get small ones, but be sure they are plump) you can find. Inspect carefully for ANY signs of ick before taking them home. Then, acclimate slowly and when you add them to the tank treat the tank with Aquarisol for 2-3 days after adding them, as a preventative.
This method has worked for me. Of course, other parasites can doom clown loaches too, as can not eating, a condition that is wasting one of mine away right now ... hasn't eaten, to my eye, once since I added him a month and a half ago... Not too much you can do about that. These are sensitive fish and if they freak out there isn't a lot of hope, at least that is my observation.
I'm puzzled at the malachite green AND copper ... that suggests you are combining medications, not a good idea. You are probably correct that the meds along with the ick killed your clown loaches. I know -- I have lost a boatload of them until I put my UV in. However, they are savable.
First, finish treating your tank. If you are combining meds or using a copper med that is not Aquarisol, then what you need to do is leave the carbon in 4-6 hrs and do your water change. Then I'd get a medication that will combat the ick but not overly stress your fish. Since none of your fish are showing signs, what I would do is put the temp up slowly, but maybe only to 82 or so unless you have a way to increase oxygenation as well. Then I'd treat with a mild anti-ick formula for 4 days as long as no white spots are visible on any fish. If you find any, then you have to go untill they are all gone then a few days extra.
There are many mild meds. I prefer Aquarisol as I've had the best success and have not lost any fish to it. Clear Ick by Aquatronics is another good choice. I'd avoid m. green and formalin as long as no fish are showing ick signs. If they do show spots, then Ridich + is a good bet, or Quick Cure if you have no plecos or scaleless left in there.
Wait a good 3 weeks before trying clown loaches. When you get them, buy the fattest (not necessarily the biggest ... you can get small ones, but be sure they are plump) you can find. Inspect carefully for ANY signs of ick before taking them home. Then, acclimate slowly and when you add them to the tank treat the tank with Aquarisol for 2-3 days after adding them, as a preventative.
This method has worked for me. Of course, other parasites can doom clown loaches too, as can not eating, a condition that is wasting one of mine away right now ... hasn't eaten, to my eye, once since I added him a month and a half ago... Not too much you can do about that. These are sensitive fish and if they freak out there isn't a lot of hope, at least that is my observation.
Thanks, Ostrow for the additional input. It was very helpful.
You are right, I was combining medications.
I know now that it was a mistake...
I am going today to look for Aquarisol, and will follow your instructions to the letter.
I am curious about your UV...what is that? A source of UV light? Is this some definitive treatment for fish diseases?
I am familiar with the clown loach starvation diets also. I hope yours starts eating soon.
You are right, I was combining medications.
I know now that it was a mistake...I am going today to look for Aquarisol, and will follow your instructions to the letter.
I am curious about your UV...what is that? A source of UV light? Is this some definitive treatment for fish diseases?
I am familiar with the clown loach starvation diets also. I hope yours starts eating soon.
Newbie: I'm curious here, and I don't mean this as an offense. How long has your tank been up, and is this your first tank?
If both you and it are new to the hobby, I think you will find interesting the articles at fish.orbust.net designed for beginners. These cover such issues as new tank setup, cycling, common diseases and treatments, etc. They will answer many if not most of your questions and save you a lot of headaches.
For my whirlwind experience with ick and UV, you'll find a long history by searching in the archived threads on the emergencies forum. Search on my name, ick, and go back to the beginning. But grab a comfy chair first!
If both you and it are new to the hobby, I think you will find interesting the articles at fish.orbust.net designed for beginners. These cover such issues as new tank setup, cycling, common diseases and treatments, etc. They will answer many if not most of your questions and save you a lot of headaches.
For my whirlwind experience with ick and UV, you'll find a long history by searching in the archived threads on the emergencies forum. Search on my name, ick, and go back to the beginning. But grab a comfy chair first!
Ostrow,
I've had my tank set up for about 2 years, so I'm not a brand new newbie, just a medium newbie.
I actually do know a little bit about the hobby, and have toyed around with several kinds of fish, but just recently discovered the clown loaches, and I think they are so cool, and I am new to keeping them.
Mixing meds was a dumb desperate thing to do.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will look at some of the articles.
I also went back and read some of your old threads.
Very interesting...I can see you've had your share of troubles too.
I've had my tank set up for about 2 years, so I'm not a brand new newbie, just a medium newbie.
I actually do know a little bit about the hobby, and have toyed around with several kinds of fish, but just recently discovered the clown loaches, and I think they are so cool, and I am new to keeping them.
Mixing meds was a dumb desperate thing to do.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will look at some of the articles.
I also went back and read some of your old threads.
Very interesting...I can see you've had your share of troubles too.
I had more than my share, mostly revolving around clown loaches. I think that there are importers and there are importers, and that means the quality of clown loach will vary dramatically across suppliers.
I currently have 2 that are plump and eating and one wasting away. If one of the fat ones bites it with this wasting away, then I will give up on them altogether for a year or two. But I think they'll be ok.
Since you say you've read the threads I'll take it you now know all about UV sterilization. I swear by it!
I currently have 2 that are plump and eating and one wasting away. If one of the fat ones bites it with this wasting away, then I will give up on them altogether for a year or two. But I think they'll be ok.
Since you say you've read the threads I'll take it you now know all about UV sterilization. I swear by it!
It's the Breeding farms. In Thailand to many cheap hormone injected fish are used. or shall i put it "less expearanced" people are doing this and imports are wanted by trade worldwide. Money and Demand is the factor.
Graeme.
Graeme.
This may be a little off topic but I always treat all of my fish with colloidal silver before adding them to the tank. It's basically an antibiotic / immune system booster and I believe wholeheartedly that it really really works. When I purchased my loaches about 4 months ago, one of them was dying, it laid on the gravel struggling to breathe and it never ate, so I netted it and put it in a bowl with tank water and added a few drops of silver and left it for like 5 minutes, just to be sure he got the silver in his system & I swear the change in him was amazing. He immediately recovered and became active and normal and NOW he's twice as large as the other loach I purchased at the same time, so I'm not sure if the silver was the reason he grew so much, but it is known for boosting your immune system and destroying bacteria. You can get a little bottle at a health food store and it lasts a long time, take some yourself if you have a tendency to get sick 
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