Clown Loach Problem

[fordsrule_68]

I recently got 4 clown loaches and they have all been fine for the past week then a couple days ago one of them started to not come out as much as he usually does. The others school together and eat zucchini and algae wafers but he doesnt seem to eat, he just lays in the same spot all day or hides in his cave the whole time even if the other loaches come by him he doesnt move or anything. He doesnt come out when I feed them either. My ph is 7.4-7.6 and Ammonia is 0 and Temp. is 77. I do 25% water change weekly. Is he just being lazy or is something wrong with him. Thanks.

[fishorama]

Clown loaches are more nocturnal, or crepuscular, active at twilight & early morning. It'll take some a month or so to adjust to new conditions. Try feeding thawed frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp just after lights out, they love 'em. Lots of hiding places help too.

I keep mine at 80-81*F & change 30-50% water weekly. (you know they get 12+ inches, right?) They like some faster current too. How big is your tank?

I'd keep a close eye out for ick & "skinny" fish, thought to be caused by internal parasites.

[fordsrule_68]

I've fed them bloodworms before and they all ate them but lately he hasn't been eating any of them and they are about 1-1.5" long and in a 20 right now but will be upgrading to a 125 soon. I know they get big and need a big tank.

[fishorama]

Really small clowns can be difficult to raise. Try upping the temp a bit & change water either larger amts or more often. How often do you feed? I feed younger fish small amounts twice a day.

Can you get levamisole HCl? It's a pig & sheep wormer that's pretty safe for fish. Feed stores often have it, the online place I got it doesn't carry the powder any more. I treat all my loaches just in case. Loaches.com has an article on it & chronic wasting ("skinny disease").

A week isn't very long, try feeding with the lights out. Food variety is good, although mine like almost anything: flake, wafers, pellets, frozen.

[fordsrule_68]

I feed small amounts twice a day I'll look for the wormer.

[fordsrule_68]

He now swims by the intake tube for the filter and gets stuck to it and I have to shut it off for him to swim away from it.

[bluekrissyspike]

that's usually a sign (in my experience) that the fish is going to die as it should have no trouble fighting the current to get away.

[fordsrule_68]

Now he's breathing really fast and just lets the current push him around i think he'll prolly die.

[fishorama]

That does sound dire, I'm sorry.

[ashepler]

Now he's breathing really fast and just lets the current push him around i think he'll prolly die.

I recently experienced this in one of my clowns. For about a week it seemed rather shy, listless then started this extremely rapid breathing where his mouth sort of looked like it was stuck open. It would hang out in the one small dead spot inthe tank above and behind the canister output. My wife almost had me convinced that it needed euthanized, but am I glad I didn't! After a total of probably 10 days of this weird behavior he came out of it and is now eating and acting normal. Gills seem to be moving only slightly more rapid than the others.

Don't give up on your loach!!

[fordsrule_68]

He died. Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

[fishorama]

aww, I'm sorry.

[tonergirl]

I'm sorry too :( I just love my Clowns...

[KateCB]

This sounds awful, but thank goodness - I have recently had the same problem, listless, gasping, hiding, not feeding......took about a wekk or so and then suddenly he was swiming around with the the others as normal - he is a little paler than them at the moment, but at least I know it wasn't just MY clown - a common clown cold perhaps?! Hope your loach recovers too. :)