Distressing Kuhli loach behavior

Hurley

Hurley

aka Bunny13
Oct 2, 2005
1,644
0
36
Baltimore, Maryland
www.freewebs.com
I bought 6 Kuhli loaches about a week and a half ago because they are very cute and I have read they are a fun fish. Unfortunately, I only have one left. I am trying very hard to save this one but things are not looking well. The loach will often just sit on the ground and every once in a while it starts withering as if it is pain or having a seizure especially if something bumps into it. It has been doing this for about a week and they get more and more frequent. Every time it has a seizure I think it had died because it usually is belly up but it always continues to breath. The loach looks normal, normal coloration and no sores. When it has these "seizures" it bends its head around to touch its body (kind of like a walking or candy cane) and shakes on the ground or sometimes it swims around like this, convulsing. This is very disturbing to watch and I am at a loss for what to do. The water parameters are:

Ammonia:0
NitrITEs:0
NitrATEs:10
pH:7
Temp:79

The tank has been fully cycled for months now. It is a planted tank with plenty of hiding spots, and none of the other inhabitants are acting strange.

It is very disheartening to watch this animal and I want to know if there is anything I can do or has it come to the point that I should euthanize it so that it doesn’t suffer. Please let me know what you think.
 
Bunny, I'm sorry, I'm not going to be of any help to you. But your situation sounds exactly like what I'm going through. I bought 6 kuhlis a week ago Friday (Jan 27th) and I, too, am down to one. They each die the same way you describe, with the spinning/convulsing. After the first 4 died and I had 2 left all I could think was perhaps parasites, I don't know, but like yours there are no marks, colour is healthy. I treated with prazi-pro and metro for both external/internal, sort of a last ditch effort. But the 5th one died 2 days ago. My last one isn't spinning yet. I feel sorry for him being all alone, though.

Edit.... edited the date I bought mine for clarification.
 
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Hmmm. Thats Wierd I cant really help you there other then say maybe it was a bad batch???
I mean My Kuhli (Slorg) has been through everything... Literrallly. Hes been dropped on the floor in a net accident, hes been stuck in the filter, when he was a youngin. Anywho hes probably 3.5 years old now. Hes around 4 inchs,and hes really fat. Owell I love him. Kuhlis rockk.
 
Thanks for your support guys! Its really sad to watch my loach the way it is. Kveeti, did using the meds help at all? Its kind of reassuring to know others are having the same problem. Im a little wary about buying more but maybe it was just a bad batch like you said Betta-Luvn.
 
It's hard to go to another pet store for them here. I have been after these guys for months, calling around regularly. This was the only store that had them, finally. A couple stores flat out told me they don't order them in any more because of mass deaths. I specifically asked the store how long they'd had them when I went to pick them up. He said a couple days. He said if they make it through the first 2 days, then you're good. So, I made it through the first 2 days and I was thrilled. The third morning, 2 were dead - I hadn't noticed anything the day before and I'd watched them for hours. Oh, well, I thought, the other 4 were seemingly healthy. Two days after that, the spinning started in 1. After he died, again, the remaining ones seemed fine.

Bunny, I don't know if the meds helped. I'd like to think so. But one died 1 day after I started them. Now, the 6th is so far all right. Of course, the lights haven't come on yet (the overhead lights come on at 9:30 and the tank lights at 11:00, as the fish are in the basement). Even though he was healthy yesterday, I'm still wary of going to that tank later on.
 
Kveeti, I think I will give the meds a try. At this point I've got nothing to lose. I hope everything works out with your kuhli loach.

I was having the same problem with my lfs and them having kuhli loaches in stock. When they finally got them in I waited a while before buying and I watched them very closely. They seemed normal at first and one by one they would die, often over night. When I would retrieve them there would be no unusual markings on their bodies. I did however notice that sometimes thier bellies would be a purple color. I have never has kuhli loaches before so I can't say if that is normal or a sign of stress. (My loach right now is not purpled colored.)

ugh...this is so aggrevating. He just sits there on the bottom unless something brushes up against him or the current moves him. Then he starts writhering in what looks like pain. I hate feeling helpless!!
 
Bunny13 I hope someone does know what this is. I've received deliveries of kuhlis from 3 different wholesalers, one local and two in Florida and have had every batch crash the same way. Flawless water, just like yours. I've stopped ordering them for now. Maracyn , Maracyn 2 and Furan had no effect.

Mark
 
Its so sad to hear. I mean my tank wouldnt be the same without slorg. He makes everything come alive. even if he does dig everything up and causes trouble. I Hope everything pulls through for you, and one at least makes it. We always have Kuhlis up here in Canada. They are always really healthy. Its Great to see people are caring about them considering they are very sensitive to water changes, and very prone to diesese because they have no scales.
 
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