Sick or crazy Clown Loach

MightyWarMonger

MightyWarMonger

I probably alredy hate you !!!
Mar 18, 2007
141
0
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46
Maryland
Ok I have a clown loach in my tank and he does weird things well one weird thing. It looks like he is sleeping on his side almost looks dead, but if I get the net close he gets up and swims normal same if other fish get to close to him. it swims around most of the time but some times ( at least 1 or 2 times a day) he apears to be sleeping. other than that he eats and swims normal. below are some pics on his tail there apears to be spots an right about mid body there seems to be a white mark like some skellital structcher is showing. I didn't think this was normal so I got some pics so you can see. Is there somthing wrong hear or is it just me? thanx for any healp.

Sleeping/ laying on side
IMG_1174.jpg


Spots on tail
IMG_1183.jpg


Wight bone looking thing
Clown1.jpg
 
The fish is starving to death. Hopefully you can find something he will eat immediately! Frozen or live foods are your best bet. Check all of the water parameters to make sure they are not causing any problems as well, just to be sure. Those spots may be ich but it is difficult to tell for sure from the picture. If they are ich, the prognosis is not good considering his advanced starvation. In the future look for fish with much more rounded bodies and upright fins when you buy - I'm guessing this is a recent acquisition.
Beasts
 
Clown Loaches will often rest on their sides. Very often giving their loving owners a near heart attack when spotted in that position. I have several clowns, they all do this but the largest seems to do it the most, as soon as I walk up to the tank he perks right up and swims away.

Do you have any closer photos of the spots? I am thinking it may be ick which will need to be treated right away to save the fish and any others in the tank.

Skinny clown loaches can be a sign of "wasting disease" or skinny disease. They are prone to this disease and sadly it's very hard to treat. How long have you had the clown and how often do you feed the fish?
 
Resting on its side is a normal Clown Loach thing. You just have one Clown? They are a highly social species species and absolutely must be kept in groups. A minimum of 5 is best, but the more the merrier.

Your fish is suffering from Chronic Wasting Syndrome. This is quite common unfortunately in new Clown imports. It is caused by an internal parasite or combination of parasites. The fish eats normally but the parasites utilize the food so the fish does not put on weight and wastes away.

Young clowns should look like this from above:

chromobotia_macracanthus_03.jpg


Best treatment is Levamisole Hydrochloride.

http://www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/levamisole-hydrochloride-1

Martin.
 
Thanks for posting that link Martin. I was just looking for more info to post about wasting.

I know you know a thing or two about loaches!;)
 
Yes it was a fairly new perchase about 3 weeks ago. It looked healthy enugh when I bought it and it has normal behavior. It east and swims normal but he does seem to be skinny. and as far as food I've been feeding NLS about twice a day. I read most of the article alot of it I didnt understand But I think I will move it to a hospital tank and treat for ich and wasting desise. I think my HT is 20g so what does of Levamisole Hydrochloride would I use? or is it now sold at LFS with instructions. or should I go off the instuctions in the article? and the reason I only have one clown loach is because I cant ever find more they are always sold out.
 
If it's ick, you will have to treat the whole tank. Be careful though Clown Loaches are very sensitive to meds. My tank had ick about six months ago and I have several clowns. I used QuickCure but only at the half dose. I also raised the temp to 86 and lowered the water level to agitate the surface to add oxygen since the tank temp was raised. I followed the water change instructions on the Quickcure bottle. I treated for two weeks, well after the signs ick were gone, but had to make sure. There are many methods to healing ick, I just know what worked for me.

Be certain that it's ick before you treat it.

As far as wasting disease goes just keep in mind it can be hard to treat. The only thing I have read to work is the Levamisol but I do not know where it can be purchased, perhaps online.
 
In Martin Thoene's post he put a link that you read that listed a few placwes online to get it I was just wondering if they had it in LFS. I will double check on the ich and see if I can get a better pic of it when I get home. its only on its tail and its the only one in the tank with it atm.
 
I have never been able to find it at a local store but I read that sometimes farm supply stores carry it for deworming.
 
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