Store with white spot.

They need to do a little bit of work in their quarantining process. I would tell them this and then let them know that I wouldn't buy from them until they begin to do so. Then, I wouldn't buy from them again, until the ownership changes.

Remember that copper medications are not clown loach-safe, so you can't treat them using the standard copper-based ich medications.

Assuming that white spot is ichthyophirius, ich, there's a few reasons why it's happening. One is that they may in fact be having an outbreak. Two is that ich is induced by stress or poor water, both of which lower a fish's immunity and therefore is more suseptible to becoming infected. Perhaps the stress from moving is enough to cause it, I've seen it numerous times before. When you get more fish, and this goes for fish from all stores, not just this one, I'd let the fish float for 20 minutes, then let in a bit of the tank water, and do this 15 minutes later and another 15 minutes after that. That should make sure the temp. is the same. pH should be similar then too, though usually fish with pH shock die. If the pH is really different I'd let water in every 15-30 minutes for a few hours. And lastly, as to why your fish aren't getting it (the current residents) is that they aren't going through any stressful conditions, and the fact that they aren't getting it means that you have good healthy fish Check your water for nitrates, as that just adds to the stress. Sorry this ran on for a bit, but I hope it helps. Oh, and for some reason, after a fish has ich, they seem almost to grow an immunity for it (don't take my word here, but it seems so). Maybe your current fish were exposed to it but are now able to fight it off, like a vaccine. Just a thought.

You know, for any other line of business that may be true, but not for fish keepers. Most of the stores around here are run by total a$$holes. They're nice to me now because I'm a regular just about everywhere now, but they're still unfriendly people. I think that leads to the higher prices, where everyone thinks his stuff is better than the other guys, even when it's not. I'd like to see them all get together

clown loaches are notorious for being susceptible to ich. the stress of the move is the most likely culprit. when you then added more (stressed) fish they may have caught it in your tank not from the store. many people suggest treating for ich with new clown loaches even if no symptoms are shown.

regards

Elaborate precautions about equalizing temperatures don't protect a fish exposed to Ich from attack. Often the first point of infection is the gills, where you don't see the white spots.

Sloppy day-to-day husbandry at that lfs spreads the parasite from every infected arrival. You're doing well to avoid the place.