Clown loach not eating...is he the runt??

beviking

beviking

Senior Member, Sophomoric Attitude
Feb 16, 2002
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Syracuse, NY
I've had this pair of clowns for 2yrs now. One always ate more than the other (had a bigger belly). I bought another after 3 months of owning the first two and all seemed well. After several (maybe a couple?) months I noticed the one (original that didn't eat as well as the first) looking gaunt. I moved it to a Q-tank and treated for internal parasites (pepso-food). It didn't seem to like the pepso food much but ate shrimp pellets and bottom wafers eagerly. After a week, he plumped back up and I returned him to the main tank. He did well for quite a while, but he has steadily lost weight over the last month to the point I removed him again and am re-fattening him. If I add more food to the main tank (thinking I just wasn't adding enough food), the other fish eat it and get fat but the runt stays thin.
I know they have a social order, but is this normal? There are a total of 3 clown loaches, 1 yo-yo loach, 1 zebra loach, 2 upside down catfish, and a clown (candystripe) pleco as my bottom crew for my 90g tank. I spread the food around (shrimp pellets, bottom wafers, veggies too) but the "runt" just swims around while the others eat. He occassionally stops for a quick nibble but then is off to just swim around. Any ideas?
 
You know I had the exact same thing happen.I origianlly bought 3 then added another 4 over the years.Well one was always skinny, it did eat but looked like a skelaton.Everytime it got really skinny I had to isolate it to fatten it up, the last time it did not respond and eventually died.You could maybe try treating for tapeworms as this could maybe be the cause.I recently dosed my planted tank as my rams and panchaxes had internal worms, I treated with leavcide(Levamisole Hc), after treating the worms cleared up and they began putting on weight again.
 
re skinny clown

Loaches are prone to a wasting disease. The common treatment for it are Maracyn 1 and Maracyn 2 at the same time for about 8 days. if you go to loaches.com you can find more info on this. It is usually called " skinny disease"
 
Thank you for the replies. Is this a reoccurring thing or just treat and it's gone for good? Uh...I guess loaches.com will tell me that answer.
 
re loaches.com

Hi beviking loaches.com is my home board as I have 37 assorted loaches in 3 tanks. Sorry to hear you can get onto loaches.com. I did a search for you on the treatment and I was correct eveybody uses Maracyn 1 and Maracyn 2 at the same time for 7-10 days. It very safe for loaches it almost always works. However sometimes "skinny disease leaves them in a very weak state so feed them good food such as bloodworms. If he won't come out to eat try placing it right in the spot he's hiding in. Melafix is often used with loaches to promote healing a well.
Good Luck Kuhli:)
 
nope

Cure it once it should be gone:)
 
Thanks kuhli! I get onto loaches.com but after searching around, my computer locks up (usually doesn't do that). My clown isn't bashful, he still comes out and goes for food when I feed, it just doesn't eat it. He's really thin and I'm starting to think he may not make it. I've tried feeding everything I have! I'll keep trying and hope for the best. Thanks again!!
 
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