Dojo loach barbels

[mollybabes]

The barbels around my dojo loaches mouth seem to have shrunk down to stubs. He is a pretty small loach, thinner than a pencil, but I am sure they used to be longer. my tank parameters are just fine, the nitrates are a little high, but my tank does have a slight case of ich which is being treated with rid ich. I am sure I noticed the short barbels before I introduced the new clown loaches that also came with the ich.

What could this be?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Blinky]

This often happens as a reaction to high nitrates, can also happen if the substrate is too rough.
Since you're treating for ich anyway, I suggest daily water changes - it will get the parasites out of your substrate where they breed, and clear up the nitrates.
They'll grow back just fine once everything in the tank balances out