Sick Zebra Loach :(

[Kaffeh]

Hi, I'm hoping some of you can help me. I've got a tank with 7 (now 6) loaches - a mixture of zebras and what I think are double-banded loachs (?). Anyway, one of my zebras developed a droopy stomach. I thought perhaps I had been over-feeding him (cos we all know how much of an appetite these little fellas have!!). However, his stomach kept expanding (I made a point of not over feeding them) and he began to lie on his back. He'd occasionally swim around the tank but it wouldn't be as co-ordianted as normal. I began to worry so did a water-test - everything was fine except the nitrate level which was quite high (35) . So we carried out the relevant treatments and water changes and brought it back down to ok levels. However, my poor little fella died

I took a photo of him to show you what I meant by the expanded stomach cos I really want to know what caused it as I don't want my others to go the same way. They all seem ok atm (touch wood) and I've cut down on their food.

So, did I create an obese fish or was it dropsy? Or something worse??Click to see loach

EDIT Now one of my other loaches appears to be developing a swollen abdomen

 

[loachman]

I doubt it was overfeeding or nitrate level. Nitrate at 35 ppm isn't too high to cause problems in fish. Lower is always better, but most freshwater fish can survive in 100 ppm especially for a short time.

You may want to post in the Fish emergency section, as that gets more traffic with ppl with treatment experience.

 

[Kaffeh]

I doubt it was overfeeding or nitrate level. Nitrate at 35 ppm isn't too high to cause problems in fish. Lower is always better, but most freshwater fish can survive in 100 ppm especially for a short time.

You may want to post in the Fish emergency section, as that gets more traffic with ppl with treatment experience.

Ok then, thank you very much