Rescued Clown Loach

[ally72]

hy, I was given an 8 year old clown loach by one of the boys at work yesterday, I could'nt believe my luck when he offered it to me as I have a clown tank but the oldest is a year and they are fantastic fish.
I couldnt believe it when he took a plastic bag in with 2 pints if that of dirty water the next day and he had it in his pocket !!!
I had a look and the poor thing was dead or looked like it,
I live next door to my work and took it right home and slowly introduced it to the tank, when i let a little of my water into the bag he snapped upright again and started moving and after a while i put him in with the rest. I have 10.
this fish is 5 to 5 1/2 inches and is like a slip of paper.
he says it came with his tank when he got it 8 years ago and the tank was 60 ltr
he also told me he fed the fish flakes that was all but he never saw the clown when he fed them as he had mollys they ate all the food he guessed it must be eating algie ?!

my question is : is it possible to bring him back to good health after being starved of food company and space for so long.

I have been keeping vigil since putting him in yesterday and seing him eating the bloodworm realy put a smile on my face he loves it and the cucumber and brine shrimp and hes been exploring with the other smaller clowns up and down the tank and the two larger older clowns are letting him share there sleeping place during day but have noticed them chasing him at feeding time but he is getting plenty to eat.

will try and get a pic or vid of him but it will upset you.
his skin is very pale but my main worry is how thin he is
I thought he would hide for a while but he hasnt its like hes trying to make up for lost time
playing and searching for any hidden food.
I feed my clown tank 4 times a day and also give them cucumber and prawns to keep them happy during the day.

there are no signs of white spot or itching but have raised temp in tank and treated anyway yesterday

would just like to know that its possible to fatten him up ? and wat problems I face.

 

[Davo86]

Feeding is a great sign, if it is eating then it should be ok although I would be building up its feeding amounts very gradually as it may not be able to handle too much high protein foods (bloodworm) if it isn't used to eating large amounts. I would also be wary that the clown hasn't got internal parasites which are making it look this thin (have a google of 'skinny disease' which effects clown loach and see if it has any of the symptoms.

Provided your water stats remain spot on, IMO it should make a decent recovery

 

[ally72]

Feeding is a great sign, if it is eating then it should be ok although I would be building up its feeding amounts very gradually as it may not be able to handle too much high protein foods (bloodworm) if it isn't used to eating large amounts. I would also be wary that the clown hasn't got internal parasites which are making it look this thin (have a google of 'skinny disease' which effects clown loach and see if it has any of the symptoms.

Provided your water stats remain spot on, IMO it should make a decent recovery

ok thanks

 

[loachman]

as said, it might be a good idea to treat for internal parasites. They can keep a fish thin and are not uncommon in loaches.

Otherwise, as long as he's eating he should turn around and be fine.

 

[ally72]

as said, it might be a good idea to treat for internal parasites. They can keep a fish thin and are not uncommon in loaches.

Otherwise, as long as he's eating he should turn around and be fine.

hy was just reading about skinny disease, can you recomend a course of treatment for internal parasites in loaches please ?
I know they are very sensitive to chemicals.

thanks ..

 

[ally72]

have been looking at some pics of clowns infected with skinny disease and I dont think it has, I think its just been in a stupid sized tank and had flake food or nothing for eight years, and knowing the boy I doubt if its been fed every day, will enjoy beefing him up !!! he is realy picking up tonight, have just been down to check on him and hes scavenging and swimming round with the group

thanks again

 

[Lestat999]

It might be worth treating it with Kusuri wormer plus, keep feeding it a variety of foods every day & good luck. Post some photo's once it's beefed up a bit please?

 

[ally72]

It might be worth treating it with Kusuri wormer plus, keep feeding it a variety of foods every day & good luck. Post some photo's once it's beefed up a bit please?

I will thank you .

 

[ally72]

here is a pic of him last night.

and here is a pic of one of my one year olds against same back ground so you can compare.

will let you know how he does thanks

 

[loachman]

as said, it might be a good idea to treat for internal parasites. They can keep a fish thin and are not uncommon in loaches.

Otherwise, as long as he's eating he should turn around and be fine.

hy was just reading about skinny disease, can you recomend a course of treatment for internal parasites in loaches please ?
I know they are very sensitive to chemicals.

thanks ..

You can try this. I've heard there is some trouble getting it in England, so you may or may not find the same.

 

[Lestat999]

as said, it might be a good idea to treat for internal parasites. They can keep a fish thin and are not uncommon in loaches.

Otherwise, as long as he's eating he should turn around and be fine.

hy was just reading about skinny disease, can you recomend a course of treatment for internal parasites in loaches please ?
I know they are very sensitive to chemicals.

thanks ..

You can try this. I've heard there is some trouble getting it in England, so you may or may not find the same.

Kusuri should do the trick but you could check with your local pig farmer to find Levamisole Hydrochloride.

 

[ally72]

as said, it might be a good idea to treat for internal parasites. They can keep a fish thin and are not uncommon in loaches.

Otherwise, as long as he's eating he should turn around and be fine.

hy was just reading about skinny disease, can you recomend a course of treatment for internal parasites in loaches please ?
I know they are very sensitive to chemicals.

thanks ..

You can try this. I've heard there is some trouble getting it in England, so you may or may not find the same.

Kusuri should do the trick but you could check with your local pig farmer to find Levamisole Hydrochloride.

ok thanks, there are actually a lot of pig farms in this area so i will look into it ta

 

[millym]

good for you for giving the poor thing another chance at a good life, i bet he's just so much happier already being in with his own kind & actually getting food he likes!!! good luck & keep us updated

 

[ally72]

Hy it's been 10 days now and im pleased to say he is doing realy well
He is a bottomless pit and is now the first one out as soon as im around in the hope hell get a prawn
He / she is beginning to fill out as well the rectangle on his side is not realy vissible any more and his tails beginning to fill out also
here are a couple of pics from tonight but hes hard to catch, got loads of pics but all blury as he hunts for food !

will update again soon thanks