I have a 3" clown loach in my community tank, and so far all has been well. However, now I am observing him scraping the lower part of his body on rocks and driftwood. I am concerned that this may be some kind of a disease, however, I have not been able to make a diagnosis. There is no visible damage or parasites on his gills or sides, and although he apparently is doing it more and more, I also have guessed this could be normal behaivor? (since I have not been able to come up with another explaination) What IS this? normal behaivor or is he SICK!?! Also if he is sick, is it communicable?
Normal Behaivor or a SICK FISH?
- Thread starter GobyGuy5
- Start date
Itching is usually a sign of parasites, most likely ich. Are you sure there's no signs of anything?
He could also have a fungus.
Both of these are communicable. Look at your fish very closely and make sure that it's not got any signs of disease or infestation. They might be unnoticeable right now, then you'll look in the tank, say, tomorrow, and the fish be absolutely covered in ich....
Check your other fish as well.
If he doesn't show ANY other symptoms, I don't know what to tell ya! Maybe a territorial thing? I wouldn't think so, though....
Loaches are scaleless, aren't they? (In another type of fish, I would say maybe he had a loose scale or something, but that wouldn't apply here....)
He could also have a fungus.
Both of these are communicable. Look at your fish very closely and make sure that it's not got any signs of disease or infestation. They might be unnoticeable right now, then you'll look in the tank, say, tomorrow, and the fish be absolutely covered in ich....
Check your other fish as well.
If he doesn't show ANY other symptoms, I don't know what to tell ya! Maybe a territorial thing? I wouldn't think so, though....
Loaches are scaleless, aren't they? (In another type of fish, I would say maybe he had a loose scale or something, but that wouldn't apply here....)
When I first got him he did have a little ich on him, however, It promptly dissappeared and I have not seen it since, also I put some aquarium salt in the water, doesn't that rule out most types of fungus?
All other fish are just fine, nothing unusual, etc.
He has been doing this for a while, however lately this behaivor has become more frequent.
All other fish are just fine, nothing unusual, etc.
He has been doing this for a while, however lately this behaivor has become more frequent.
Clown Loaches are notorious for being sensitive to Ick. If he had Ick when you got him, and it just "went away" its most likely that the cycsts simply released their parasites into the water and they have re-attached somewhere else on the fish (possibly the gils). I would treat for Ick anyway, as a precaution.
If your loach is scratching, it is a sign of stress. This stress could be from illness or parasite, water quality, contaminents, any number of things.
I keep several varieties of loaches and every time I add a new one, they get Ick. That's where I would start.
If your loach is scratching, it is a sign of stress. This stress could be from illness or parasite, water quality, contaminents, any number of things.
I keep several varieties of loaches and every time I add a new one, they get Ick. That's where I would start.
Okay, I do have some aquari-sol I could treat the tank with, do clown loaches tollerate that kind of mediacation? (copper)