Unwell Clown Loach, Help Needed.

[dalios]

As titled above one of my clown loaches seems very unwell he/she has been hiding away in my ornament for a couple of days has not eaten or come out at all and have noticed it was breathing very quick, also noticed its belly seems to be quite big.
 
Same thing happened with my fighter fish had a big belly (not breathing fast tho) was acting a bit slower than usual then he died.
 
Come home today to find the clown loach in the top right hand corner of the tank not moving breathing fast still, has lost a bit of its colour and now noticed it has a couple of white patches on its body almost like it scraped on something.
 
Any help on what to do will be grateful.
 
I do have the tetra medica lifeguard tablets not sure if there anygood.

Forgot to mention tank is 180L plenty of air in there plenty of filtration. Water tests were all fine also i dont overfeed at all, do regular weekly water changes etc. Tank has been running since feb this year, have lost 3 fish in the past 6-8weeks not sure why.
 
thanks

 

[Ninjouzata]

Can you give the exact readings of the water parameters? 'Fine' can vary a lot depending on who you ask.
Can you get a picture of your clown loach? Have you added anything recently such as chemicals, fish, decorations, plants?

 

[dalios]

Can you give the exact readings of the water parameters? 'Fine' can vary a lot depending on who you ask.
Can you get a picture of your clown loach? Have you added anything recently such as chemicals, fish, decorations, plants?

hi readings were,  ammonia always stays at 0.25ppm even after a big water change it has never changed for some reason might be the test kit. nitrite 0 nitrate 5ppm nitrate has never been above 10ppm ph 7.5  with api liquid test kit. can try get a picture tomorrow as the lights are all off and he hides is a little hard to get one but it is exactly as described. No added nothing at all not had any new fish for a good 6weeks now and dont think i am over stocked. Only chemicals i add is when i do a waterchange and always make sure i use the right amount to the water added.

 

[ShinySideUp]

How big is the Clown loach, how old? How many others do you have and are they all a similar size?
 
The white patches could be a fungus but it could also be that the fish has actually injured itself as injuries tend to appear as a white covering over the wound—a bit like an underwater scab.
 
The big belly is a worry. I had one that died and it too had a strange-shaped belly however I think it was a genetic abnormality as the two I bought with it are still very small (3.5 inches) even though they are eight years old, my other four are heading for seven inches now and they are all roughly the same age as the small ones. Mine are in a 640 litre tank.
 
I'll await the photograph.

 

[dalios]

How big is the Clown loach, how old? How many others do you have and are they all a similar size?
 
The white patches could be a fungus but it could also be that the fish has actually injured itself as injuries tend to appear as a white covering over the wound—a bit like an underwater scab.
 
The big belly is a worry. I had one that died and it too had a strange-shaped belly however I think it was a genetic abnormality as the two I bought with it are still very small (3.5 inches) even though they are eight years old, my other four are heading for seven inches now and they are all roughly the same age as the small ones. Mine are in a 640 litre tank.
 
I'll await the photograph.

hi,
I would say it is about 3.5inches at the moment maybe a little smaller i got it a few months ago maybe around 3inches not sure how old it is.
 
I only have 2 at the moment i wanted more but as i only have a 180L tank i didnt know if it was a good idea to have too many till i got a bigger tank in a year or so they are both the same size, the other one is perfectly fine.
 
Hmm maybe a fungus or a scuff as it has been laying on its side a lot in the ornament, im guessing its what it maybe but it doesnt seem healthy at all.
Yes i thought the big belly was a worry, seems as if it is bloated the belly is bigger than normal and bigger than my other loach and it hasnt eaten for a couple of days now.
 
Not sure what to do as if i leave it i dont think it will have long left. Poor fish.
 
Dont know why i have lost a couple of fish the past couple of months i am doing everything as i should be all the levels seem ok aswell.

 

[dalios]

the white patches on the clown loach have gone today its belly still seems to be the same, cant seem to get a picture at the moment as he hides away in the ornament and just lays on its side or upside down.
 
Dont know the best thing to do for it, anyone got any advice?
 
thanks

 

[dalios]

Sadly my clown loach just stopped breathing went on a mad swim around and died.
 
I will do another water test again tomorrow and do a big water change as not sure if my water is the problem may of just been nature taking its place but will see.
 
Thanks all for the help shame was nothing i could do for it.

 

[star4]

Sorry for your loss. You say you have lost a couple of fish to bloating. How often and what are you feeding them? It could they are bloating from constipation. Try adding lightly cooked de-shelled pea to their diet at least once a week.