emaciated clown loach

[Misskiwi67]

We have had 2 clown loaches in our 55 gallon aquarium for over a year now. We had 3 originally, but one never ate well and eventually died. One of our two has slowly become more and more emaciated over the past few months. He is still active and eating however, so I was wondering if internal parasites were a possible cause of his emaciation??? I searched the threads on internal parasites, and it seems like Metro-med would be a good medicated food, since he is currently eating. We did purchase two more clown loaches in case the sick one passes away, I know they prefer to school. Any suggestions as to causes, treatments, and where to get medications would be greatly appreciated.

Smiles,
Alinda

[fish_freak]

you can check out www.fishmeds.com it has all kinds of info on illness and treatments. sorry I couldnt be of more help but all I know of internal parasites is that there very hard to get rid off.

[valerie]

It could possibly be parasites. I would treat for them as you can't really rule them out. You can either buy metrodazle(sp?) foods or make them at home. I prefer making them at home as the fish sometimes dont' take to the new medicated foods.

When i treat for parasties i use Metrodazole by seachem and mix a bit(about 1/2 a scoop) in with about 1oz warm water) then saok some pellets in it. Or i also take a cube for frozen food and mix about 1/2 scoop to 1 cube.I thaw the frozen food first then mix in the powder. I then let this sit for a while, so the meds soak in more.

I also jsut bought new life specturm Thera-A formula. Its a non medicated anti parasite food and can be fed on a regular basis. I have been feeding it to my africans since a few months ago one of them died from what i think could be parasites. No other fish have died and the white poo has gone.I have only been feeding it for a few weeks.

[Misskiwi67]

where did you get that food? I was thinking of buying a medicated flake food from Angels Plus....

[valerie]

Which food? The thera- A from NLS? I got it mail order from www.petsolutions.com , can't seem to find it in canada.

[SnakeIce]

it could be a parasite causeing the original problem how ever for the weakened fish to gain strength you may have to separate him from the other clown. I had one that I had to deal with a parasite to begin with but then because he was weaker the other clown(I had two) wouldn't let it eat and it was still wasteing away.
I gave it a home of its own in another tank and it started gaining back what it had lost