LOACHES MOUTHS ARE ENLARGED

[Red]

One or two of my beloved clown loaches seem to have enlarged mouths not the usual face shape that tapers down to a point. There is no sign of white fungus-like infection but I have noticed heavy breathing (rapid gill movement) and they are all grey instead of the usual black areas.

The weird mouth shape on one has become particularly prounced - it lookded at first as if it had a pebble stuck in its mouth but now there is a pronounced dip above the mouth and the mouth appears very open like a big wide O.

Does anyone know what is causing this and how to treat?

(P.S. Been testing the water and changing to reduce slightly high nitrate levels back to normal. No sign of whitespot or any other disease that I recognise.)

I am about to dose with Melafix as general purpose panacea unless you have any other ideas???

 

[The-Wolf]

Is there any flashing? do you see any signs of a grey mucus?

 

[Red]

No flashing or flicking.

One seems to have grey on grey bits (which ought to be black) but I'm not sure if that is velvet or part of its natural colouring. Do you think Velvet? That should have responded to the protozin I put in as a precaution against whitespot.

Everyone has survived the night but none of them have ever exhibited what everyone else reports as normal loach behaviour (no clicking, no greedy feeding, no friendliness, no sleeping upside down)

 

[The-Wolf]

I'd say you have a parasite problem, possibly ectoparasites, sterazin would be the treatment to use.

good luck sweetie.

 

[Red]

Damn it! I thought I was prepared with a little fish meds cabinet of most popluar treatments but it's always something I haven't got in stock!

 

[smithrc]

our clowns actually have an outer 'covering' that has the barbles attached to it and an inner mouth.

when ours eat thet flip that up and down as they eat...

so it sounds like yours are stuck open??

p.s. the gray instead of black is normal... its called graying

Loaches.com has details.

 

[MissClaire]

My loaches have this exact problem....Ive had a major parasite problem (and all kinds of problems ) in my tank.....
They orginally started with ich....which I treated...now they seem to have wide open mouths and although they are eating losing weight very very rapidly, skin peeling...my tank has been treated with so many medicines now over the past...I dont know how ANYTHING can survive...parasite or fish!
I just havnt posted up about my loaches becasue my posts will get annoying! haha

good luck!!!!
tell me how they go....

 

[Red]

our clowns actually have an outer 'covering' that has the barbles attached to it and an inner mouth.

when ours eat thet flip that up and down as they eat...

so it sounds like yours are stuck open??

p.s. the gray instead of black is normal... its called graying

Loaches.com has details.

I don't think it's an outer covering thing - although I'll be damn pleased if it is.
the fish in question was also breathing heaving.

I've searched and posted the same on loaches.com.

I have added Melafix and tonight there was a slightly subdued rush for food - not exactly a greedy fight but more enthusiasm than I've seen before.

Yes - I know about greying out. I did my research before I fell in love with them.
These are patches of grey WITHIN the black areas. It doesn't look normal at all compared to the other loaches in my downstairs tank. They are wholly black and only the leader of the pack greys out occasionally.

Miss Claire - it sounds like Wolfie might be right about Velvet and this being in some way connected. I have covered my tank with a blanket all day for the last two days. Maybe this has something to do with the small improvement that I'm seeing.

Please post all your loach probs and resolutions - I asuure you it's not annoying. Everyone here is a "fish-bore" too and it might prove an invaluable reference for someone else with a similar problem. Even if we learn what NOT to do by your experience.

My LFS (Maidenhead Aquaticcs) decribed Velvet as like "being sprayed with gold flecks" so I'm still not sur ewe have this but they advised me to treat for parasites FIRST with Melafix (which will also aid re-growth of the mouth parts and velvet after if I was sure it existed.)