Help - Clown Loach Just Lying At Bottom Of Tank

[Marclau]

O'K...........healthy community tank and have 2 loaches...........for a while, the 2 loaches were always very close to each other and going up and down.....the other very close and protective somewhat...now after 4 days, one of the loaches is doing nothing but lying at the bottom of the tank...

All other fish seem healthy and all water stats are fine........loaches are approx 2.5 years old and now around 10-12 cm long......water quality all well within limits.....
I just did a 30% water change and he seems to have proped up a little...........no longer on its side but still at the bottom of the tank......color is a little faded but nothing drastic
Have also added Melafix just in case.........

I will assess the water quality again tomorrow..........

Any ideas??

 

[Athena]

Hi - is it possible for you to post your actual water stat results here? Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and PH.

Thanks - Athena

 

[Colin_T]

it's usually a water quality issue but without knowing the statistics, it is impossible to say. If you can supply the info Athena asked for it would help.
In the mean time do another water change and gravel clean the tank. Make sure the filter is working correctly and if it hasn't been cleaned in the last month, then clean it.
Increasing aeration/ surface turbulence will sometimes help.

 

[Athena]

Also, I forgot to add that Melafix isn't used to perk fish up - it's for things like damaged fins (torn or fin-nipped), open wounds, fin rot. Best not to add any type of med to a tank "just in case..." only when you are sure what the problem is.

Regards - Athena

 

[Marclau]

O'K stats as follows;

Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
Ph 7

Its a large 59 (UK) gallon tank......establised 2 1/2 years.........

Just took a foto of him and he suddenly seems all red.......damn.........poor thing.....

 

[WILDER]

Red patches can be septicmia. Red gills can be bad water quality, bacterial gill rot, gill flukes.
Anys signs of flicking and rubbing.
Meaflix is only good on cuts and wounds. Its overated as a med.

It rare to have a nitrate reading of 0. What your tap nitrate reading. Do you have live plants in the tank.

 

[Marclau]

Yes, live plants.........and tap reading is almost the same.........it spiked about 6 months ago but settled back down after numerous water changes.........I did a change on the weekend.........I did notice he was rubbing on driftwood about a fortnight ago but didnt think much of it......

I did actually put him in emergency hospital tank about an hour ago and just found he he has passed away............damn, my kids will be very upset......
Any idea what the above was??

The other loach now also acting a bit strange........lying but no redness........they were very close....

I only did a 30% water change last night............and using Freshwater Master..........

Could it be that we added a few small pieces of cucuumber in the water to treat the fish??

 

[WILDER]

Any the fish still rubbing now.
Laying to one side and red patches can be bacterial.

Is your stocking still the same as it looks overstocked to me.

 

[Marclau]

No no-one else is rubbing...........should I do another water change tomorrow around 25%- 30%..........I just added a broad spectrum antibiotic (tablet form) and crushed 2 of them and added it to the tank............have updated signature to show fish stock.............is it really over stocked...........?? Its a 240 litre tank.......

 

[WILDER]

it depends on how big the clown loaches are. If they are quite big they need to be moved to a larger tank.
What type of sharks do you have.

What med are you thinking of using as antibitics wipe the benefical bacteria out in the filter.

Do you have an issolation tank as antibiotics should only be used in issolation.

 

[Marclau]

Yes, its a bowl for the time being..........should i do another water change of 30% or wait a few days.....

I did a google and it does look like septicmia.............damn..............

 

[WILDER]

Just some water changes on the main tank as the bacteria from the fish can enter the tank.

The bowl how big is it. Do you have a heater and airstone.
You really need a tank with a lid.

 

[Marclau]

Thanks Wilder............I do have a 32 litre tank in the garage but will need to clean it..........unfortuantely it will need to be done over the weekend......and yes, heater, filter etc...

I had this as an emergency tank but it just sat there in the kitchen with no fish in it for over 18 months so wife said to put it away.........

The other loach is around 10cm long..........bright colours but looking for its partner i guess........now lying on its side same place where the other one was for the past fortnight.......

Do they become attached?? I guess so.......he is not rubbing or anything..........just lying on its side now...........damn........

 

[WILDER]

Clean the other tank in hot salty water, rinse well and dry it with a hairdryer.
I would set the tank up rather than a bowl.
Just take some water from main tank and fill it up so ph and temp the same.

Clown loaches should be really kept in no less than a group of 3.
I have a good link to clown loaches will get if for you.

You can use bleach but I wouldn't use bleach if you are using the tank the same day.
So I would clean it with salt.

http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm

 

[Marclau]

Just a quick one Wilder (and many thanks for all your quick responses)..........do you normally have a nitrite and nitrate reading greater then 0 in a established tank like mine??

Thanks about the tank info and would love the info about loaches..........wondering now whether to go by a few more to keep the other company or wait for the tank to settle.......also, should i do another water change 30% in a day or 2?