Clown Loaches are a little more prone to Ich than most fish. Special care should be taken when the Loaches have Ich, or Whitespot. There is a lot of debate about which chemicals can be used safely with Clown Loaches. Many Ich treatments contain copper, and some sources state that is okay for Clown Loaches, while others say it should be avoided. In either case, no matter what chemical is used for treatment, Clown Loaches (and all other scale-less fish) should ONLY get HALF to three-quarter strength treatment. This is because their skin is so thin, and more than that will usually poison the fish. Make sure to read the label on the Ich treatment; some will specifically say not to use on scale-less fish. When treating, it is a good idea to turn out the light and cover the tank; it reduces stress on the Loaches and Ich has been found to thrive in light and colder waters. You can raise the temperature with the Clown Loaches to between 80 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit during treatment; even if the Ich treatment says it is not necessary, once again, Ich does not thrive in warmer waters. Take care not to keep invertebrates (snails, crabs, etc) in the tank during an Ich treatment or they will inevitably die. Also, check with your vet or local fish store about keeping amphibians in the tank during an Ich treatment.
