Clown Loach

[UK_Dave]

1 of my clowns is swimming strangely...Sometimes he swims around fine, then he goes back up to the top of the tank and just stayss still with his fins going as if he is swimming towards the currant of the water, but then sometimes he turns onto his side for ages, sometimes upside down at times.

He doesnt go to the bottom anymore like the other 2, he just stays near the middle or top in the same place, turning upside down or onto his side...Sometimes he faces the top of the water with his tail towards the bottom, and just stays there!

I think there may be something wrong with his swim bladder as he doesnt seem to go to the bottom of the tank where he should be, but im not sure

any ideas? and anything I can do for him?

To add: All water parameters are fine, with low NO3, 0 NO2 and 0 Ammonia

I also have 2 other loaches that are fine and eating ok, with no signs of white spot on any of them, and although he doesnt seem to be eating the pellets I have for my loaches, he can swim around and catch any falling flakes that the rest of the fish eat

cheers all

 

[roadmaster]

1 of my clowns is swimming strangely...Sometimes he swims around fine, then he goes back up to the top of the tank and just stayss still with his fins going as if he is swimming towards the currant of the water, but then sometimes he turns onto his side for ages, sometimes upside down at times.

He doesnt go to the bottom anymore like the other 2, he just stays near the middle or top in the same place, turning upside down or onto his side...Sometimes he faces the top of the water with his tail towards the bottom, and just stays there!

I think there may be something wrong with his swim bladder as he doesnt seem to go to the bottom of the tank where he should be, but im not sure

any ideas? and anything I can do for him?

To add: All water parameters are fine, with low NO3, 0 NO2 and 0 Ammonia

I also have 2 other loaches that are fine and eating ok, with no signs of white spot on any of them, and although he doesnt seem to be eating the pellets I have for my loaches, he can swim around and catch any falling flakes that the rest of the fish eat

cheers all

What size is the aquarium? Clown loaches I have kept did poorly in new tanks or tanks smaller than 200 litres but water conditions sound good. Have seen these fish swim at all different levels in the aquarium and even upside down.
They really do appreciate moderate current and oxygen rich water that isn't too warm. If fish was/is hanging around the return flow from the filter,I might consider adding a air stone or sponge filter that could help produce more oxygen.
Current could be added with small powerhead perhaps?
Don't forget to include some vegetable matter for the clown loaches along with occasional blood worms as well as the flake and pellet foods.
Weekly 40 to 50 percent water changes and not overfeeding will benefit them.

 

[UK_Dave]

The size is an 80G (UK) tank, and he is only about 2.5-3" in length, had him for a little while along with my other loach, so nothing is new for him, bought both at the same time, then a 3rd later who is fine

As for oxygen, I have a bubble tub that runs the length of the tank (so 4ft) and another air stone that sits in a cave, looks good aswell as extra oxygen.

Water changes are done a bit every other day when clearing the sand, and a larger one done weekly, its also well planted.

I feed in the morning and evening, a bit at a time...I also add in some veg as my plec enjoys it aswell as my other fish

 

[roadmaster]

The size is an 80G (UK) tank, and he is only about 2.5-3" in length, had him for a little while along with my other loach, so nothing is new for him, bought both at the same time, then a 3rd later who is fine

As for oxygen, I have a bubble tub that runs the length of the tank (so 4ft) and another air stone that sits in a cave, looks good aswell as extra oxygen.

Water changes are done a bit every other day when clearing the sand, and a larger one done weekly, its also well planted.

I feed in the morning and evening, a bit at a time...I also add in some veg as my plec enjoys it aswell as my other fish

Well, all sounds good to me. They really do appreciate nooks and crannys to explore, rest in,,along with perhaps some drift wood as well. I too kept three juveniles in 80 US gal until they reached approx five inches. at that time, I offered them to a friend with much larger tank. They were comical to watch and as mentioned ,,swam in all manner of positions and at all levels of the tank.
I originally had four, but one I suspect succumbed to Wasting or "skinny disease". Despite eating well.,, it simply became thinner, and thinner, over a period of a month or two and finally ,expired.
If planted tank is CO2 injected I might measure the ppm Co2 at morning and evening to see that no large swings are taking place . Other than that, I'm afraid I don't have much more to offer.

 

[UK_Dave]

well I have the usual, bits of bog wood, caves, and other things like that where they can investigate and get out of view from other fish aswell as us....Nothing has really changed, but all of a sudden he has started acting strangely with these swimming antics!

Its confusing as I havent got a clue where to start, and would prefer to find a way now rather than leave it for him to either get worse, or die on me, and I dont want to do "that" deed to end it for him in case I can save him, which I would prefer. Plus I dont want him being 1 of my other fishes lunch!

 

[WILDER]

Does he look bloated or thin.
Does he look pale or darker in colour.
Is he gasping.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.


He dosn't sound right to me, it could be a number of things.
Need to rule out internal parasites.
It looking like bacterial, to swim bladder.

 

[UK_Dave]

Does he look bloated or thin.

Nope, he looks the same as the other clown of the same age

Does he look pale or darker in colour.

Again no, he is the same as the other 2 in colour

Is he gasping.

Cant say Ive seen anything like this, he doesnt sit right at the top of the water

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.

Not anymore since I sorted out their white spot problem a couple of months ago

What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.

That im not sure of, not seen any of my clowns go, I think they do that in private in the little log they like, which is always needing cleaned when I do a clen of the sand, but I cant say, in cleaning, I have seen anything unusual

The only thing I can add today is he seems to of stopped doing it all of a sudden last night and retreated into the log decoration with the other 2...so not sure if he is recovering on his own or not, wont know till my other half does the morning feed and check

 

[WILDER]

Feed some shelled peas.

The symtoms you are describing are sounding like swim bladder.
You could also issolate him and treat him with a internal bacteria med.

What do you normally feed your fish.

 

[UK_Dave]

I heard about the Peas, but what type? Garden peas? Fresh?

so many types, I would prefer to pick the right ones (im not good with veg, not a big veg eater so its all a new world lol)

As for food, we use bloodworm (dried and sachets with some jelly stuff) flakes, and 2 types of loach and plec pellets and tablet style

I also chuck some veg in at times like cucumber and squash

 

[WILDER]

Freeze dried foods can lead to constipation and swim bladder.

Don't feed freeze dried foods for a week. Also only feed them now and then, not to much.

Introduce some frozen foods like (Daphnia) which helps the fish digest it's food. Brime shrimp.

Introduce some green veg into there diet like frozen peas, broc, spinach, cucumba, lettuce, cabbage, sproats.
Just blanch veg for a few minutes in boiling water.

Cook frozen peas for a few minutes,. Let cool down and pop out of shell.
Chop into small pieces and add to the tank.