bloated weather loach

G

gmbarrette

Registered Member
Mar 25, 2005
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I have a weather loach which I inherited about a year and a half ago. I don't know how old it is, but it's about eight inches long. It seems to be getting progressively worse. It looks to be very bloated. It doesn't move much, and often lays on its side. I haven't seen it try to feed for the last week or so, and also haven't seen it swim to the water surface to grab gulps of air, which has been a very common practice seen I've had it. Is there a somewhat common ailment in these animals which would cause this bloating? It's being housed in a 55 gallon tank with a small koi, a synodontis catfish, a couple of cory's, and another inherited cat which I haven't been able to identify yet. The PH runs in the low 7's, no ammonia or nitrites, and very low nitrate levels. Temp is around 72 - 73 degrees F. I do regular 30 - 40 % water changes because of the koi. I haven't been feeding the tank anything different. I am currently keeping 10 tanks (approx 400 gallons worth), and have kept fish for over thirty years, and I just don't normally lose fish to disease, as I've always been very methodical with my tank maintenance. Any thoughts? One last thing, all of the tanks inhabitants have been together for about a year, no recent additions.
 
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With bloating and not eating I would try feeding it some skinned slightly boiled peas, that can help if its an intestinal blockage or constipation. Also you can use epsom salts to help with blockage internally, I would reccomend a QT tank though because I wouldnt wanna treat everyone. I'm not sure the dosage but I bet you could find some info on google.

Good luck
 
I would do a forum search for epsom salt. You should find the treatment mentioned. It works well and does not harm your fish so if moving the loach to another tank can't be done then your other fish won't be harmed.
 
Try a frozen skinned pea, just thaw it, skin it, and drop it in. I know my loaches often have gas attacks. He needs to get a gulp of surface air. If you have a tank you can make shallower for him, I'd try moving him.
 
well, as far as Epson salt dosage, I've read that it should be anywhere from 1/8 teaspoon to one tablesoon per five gallons, so I transferred the loach to a 10 gallon quarrantine tank with one teaspoon to start. I'll go ahead and try the peas suggestions also. thanx to everyone for the feedback. I'll let you all know how the patient responds.
 
thanx for asking. he'll be happy to know you've been asking about him!! well, he's been right side up ever since I moved him to the quarrantine tank, so that's a good sign. and he has been moving around a bit also. it doesn't look like he has any interest in the peas yet. as far as the bloated appearance, I'd like to say that it's tapered down a bit starting from the back end, but I'm not sure about that. I've read that this loach is actually a cold water species? does anyone know if raising or lowering the temp would have any additional beneficial effect? the tank temp is currently about 72 F.
thanx again :)
 
yes, they do quite well in exterior ponds, some even doing ok in frost, but this guy is in no shape for a cool tank, I'd think. 72 to 75 sounds agreeable for his condition right now. They have swim bladders that detect changes in barrometric pressure, makes me wonder if its his bladder? Anyway, he's a hardy one, I have 2 of them, mischevious creatures! All the best.
 
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