Something wrong with one of my clown loaches ???

[Goose3080]

BIT OF AN EMERGENCY, Does anyone know what could be wrong with Black fin.....one of my clown loaches, the other 2 are happily swimming around and have teamed up, this one seems to always be on his own, today he's been showing some strange signs, hes always trying to hide, hes been laying on his side to the point where I thought he was dead, im able to catch him and pick him up in my hand without any resistance, the other 2 ive not got a chance of catching by hand, his colours are fine and my water checks out perfectly fine.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 10ppm
KH = 4
PH = 7.5
GH = 11
O2 = between 5 and 8 (sample taken from the bottom of the tank)

This is him right now laying on his side against a rock, those are sand particles on him by the way not white spot, when he does move, they fall off, ive also done an O2 test tonight which checks out fine, all other water tests I did last night and they were all fine, this behaviour has only started this evening.

Video on the way..............once it finishes processing it will be ready to view, I hand caught him and put him in a small pot filled with tank water floating in the tank, I added some tetra crispies and some dried blood worm, he doesnt seem to be interested in either.

 

[Goose3080]

My test results look perfect below:

 

[Byron]

The video shows a very stressed-out clown loach. From what you have said, it seems a certainty that he is being bullied by the other two. I'm afriad this is what frequently occurs, eventually if not initially, when the group of this species is fewer than five or six. The botine loaches are highly social fish, and a group placed together in an aquarium will quite quickly develop an hierarchy. The two that you say are usually together have probably decided this one is an intruder and his future is not a bright one.

And before it is suggested, adding more with the present pair is not at all likely to work out, for the same reason. As for the pair, that is another unknown; they may have decided to remain together, or at some point they may decide to part company, with the same result I'm afraid.

 

[Goose3080]

I didn't think he was being bullied as his colours were fine, normaly the colours fade a bit, but I put him in a hospital tank last night, unfortunately this morning he has passed away, I have a 55 gallons tank, I've got 2 other clown loaches in there, I won't be adding anymore.

I dont get it really why they are like that, 2 weeks ago I added 5 more neon tetra's and they instantly teamed up with the 5 that were already in the tank, I add another clown loach to the 2 that are already in there and they outcast him.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Adding just one caused the problem. You shoud habe added 4 or 5. My group is down to 10 because i recently lost my oldest and biggest clown. I got it in lat o2 or early 03 at about 4 inches anlong with 3 others that size. I already have a bunch smaller. The one I lost was almost 12 inches long fat and about 22 years old maybe a bit more.

Have look here (these are not mine) https://www.loaches.com/species-ind...acracanthus_group04.jpg/image_view_fullscreen
and here https://www.loaches.com/species-index/photos/c/Chromobotia-macracanthus-47.jpg/image_view_fullscreen

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Adding just one caused the problem. You shoud habe added 4 or 5. My group is down to 10 because i recently lost my oldest and biggest clown. I got it in lat o2 or early 03 at about 4 inches anlong with 3 others that size. I already have a bunch smaller. The one I lost was almost 12 inches long fat and about 22 years old maybe a bit more.

Have look here (these are not mine) https://www.loaches.com/species-ind...acracanthus_group04.jpg/image_view_fullscreen

 

[Byron]

I dont get it really why they are like that, 2 weeks ago I added 5 more neon tetra's and they instantly teamed up with the 5 that were already in the tank, I add another clown loach to the 2 that are already in there and they outcast him.

Each species of fish has specific behaviour traits and environmental needs that are part of the distinct genetic makeup of the species. In other words, it is programmed into the DNA for that species. Evolution has seen to it that these traits and needs provide the best chance for the species to be successful in their specific habitat. And the primary goal of any species is to reproduce the maintain the species.

Botine loaches ("botine" refers to species in the genus Botia plus a few other species that are similar if not nearly identical in their behaviours and needs) happen to be highly social fish that develop an hierarchy when a few/group are placed in the confines of an aquarium. I cannot say that neon tetras do not develop some sort of interactive behaviour, but it is most assuredly not as developed as it is in the botine loaches. There are other examples of this all over the fish world, as indeed is the case with all animals. When deciding on a fish species for an aq2uarium, we must research the environmental conditions the fish species requires, and provide accordingly. There is no other way to assume the fish will be well balanced and healthy. The fact that fish swim, eat and in some cases even spawn is absolutely no indication that they are in good health or well-being.

A second point is that individual fish within a species may exhibit behaviours differently. We can learn from observation in the habitat how the fish of a species behave and interact, but individual fish may not always follow the norm. However, we should never assume the two or three fish we decide to put together will be abnormal and it will work out, when the normal for the species is totally opposite. Assume the fish you acquire will be normal in their behaviours; at least this will ensure better health as much as that is possible to ensure.