clown loach noses?

angyles

angyles

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Nov 4, 2002
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Long story short, I just completed a total breakdown of my tank, bleached everything, euthanized several fish, and got it all put back together, after an ongoing struggle with columnaris. Just tonight, my healthy fish went back in. I carefully inspected each one to make sure there looked healthy. Apparently not good enough. 3 of my 5 clown loaches have what look like noses on them. I can't remember if it's normal! I'm VERY paranoid at this point. IT's not fuzzy/fungussy looking, but it's very light colored compared to the rest of their faces. I got them out immediately (about an hour to get all 3) and have them in QT.

Can someone tell me, is it normal? IT's triangular shaped and just lighter than their mouths. The biggest of the three shows the most. They're all 3 the exact same shape and color though.
 
my other two just came out of hiding and they def. do NOT have these noses, but my friend said she remembers seeing them before. Do some have it and some not? IF it IS columnaris, was being in the tank for an hour long enough to re-infect the whole thing? oh god. I'm this close to packing it all in for a couple years.
 
I can't tell but it could just be a slight scuff from catching them. I don't blame you for being worried. Since you have them in quarantine already I'd wait to see if it heals in a week or 2 with lots of water changes, just what you were trying to get over but it really does work.

Columnaris can attack such minor wounds especially in more susceptible species (like rainbows?) but I don't think loaches are more prone to infection. Did you lose loaches, I forget? The bacteria is very common, & like algae spores, "always" around.

Good luck
 
I lost rosy barbs, diamond tetras and one emerald green cory. everyone else seems fine. But suddenly, every fish I look at I see slightly white mouths HAHA. It's going to be a long time before I get over this. I guess I'll just do like you suggest, water changes, QT for a couple weeks. I need to replace my missing schools and I was thinking of banded rainbows, but if they're more sesceptible then I think I'll pick something else. I don't want to take any chances at this point.
 
I think I would wait on restocking for a long, long time.... :( sorry about your losses and troubles now too
 
serissime said:
I think I would wait on restocking for a long, long time.... :( sorry about your losses and troubles now too
Click to expand...

I know, I plan to. Well, my version of a long long time at least....maybe 6 months. The tank has top completely re-establish itself and I don't want to take any chances on getting more fish just to lead them to death. I will make sure everyone is good and healthy for 4-6 months before I introduce new victims. I can focus on getting my plants going again.
 
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