need help with clown loach

[ladymontava]

I have 2 clown loaches that at one time were not fed on a routine basis. they became thin, now they are fed daily but have yet to gain weight. What can I feed them to increase their weight. I feed them flakes, baby shrimp, and blood worms.

thanks,
LadyMontava

[Rhys]

If you routinely feed them flake and brine shrimp they should gain weight quickly. But remember not to overfeed.

[LittleLoach]

One thing with loaches is that they are very skittish too. Make sure that you give them plenty of places to hide and substitute their normal diet with some vegetables ... cucumbers are my Clowns' favourites.

They are slow growing too, so don't be surprised if it takes a while.

Good luck.

[ladymontava]

thanks for all your info...They are voracious eaters...And very lively, so I know thats not the problem. My tank is loaded with plants so they are in heaven with hiding places. I'm worried b/c they have been thin for at least 6mo. now. I thought they would have filled out by now. here is a picture of one of them:
http://www.pbase.com/image/25297185

see how it's sunken in on the dorsal surface.

i'll try with some cucumber...I was unaware they they ate vegetation. I gave them a belly full of some frozen blood worms today. I hope I can fatten these two up.

thanks again,
LadyMontava

[ewok]

try some hex-a-mit or something with "metronidazole" (sp?). loaches are known to have parasites pretty commonly because they are wild caught. another approach that might help is adding garlic to their food somehow, it is an excellent natural anti-parasitic. with the medicated approach you have to be careful with clowns, they don't respond well to some medications and i'm not sure which those are. maybe someone else will chime in.

if they are that thin i'd definately be giving them second helpings.

good luck

[bob bass]

You should have at least 3 clown loaches. They are so much happier and healthy with at least 3 loaches. The more the better. Also i noticed the more hiding spots i add the more active my loaches are. Loaches love caves to hide in. Plants are not enough cover for them. Also it's suggested to feed them 6 times a day. Who has time for that? I feed my loaches 2-3 times a day. It's easy to feed them too much when your feeding them more then once a day so be careful not to over feed them.

[YoFishboy]

I toss some sinking shrimp pellets or other sinking food in the tank at night when the lights go out for my loaches - a midnight snack if they didn't get enough during the day!

[ladymontava]

wow i posted this a year ago...didnt expect to still be getting responses! Hes not skinny any more, he had either a disease or parasite. well i did have 2 and i treated them, but one didnt make it, so i got another. they are very happy together with lots of plants to hide in. but they love to come out. i have never seen such social loaches!