Reassurance/Advice Needed

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AC Members
Oct 9, 2005
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Essex, UK
www.operationmafia.co.uk
I am feeling really nervous at the moment.
I just brought back my new weather loach, acclimatised him properly etc and all the tank stats are fine.

But as I was acclimatising it, I noticed it would sometimes become very motionless and it’s gills would stop moving (the gills that they use when they breathe).
So then I would lightly shake the bag and he would suddenly move and start breathing again.

Now this has continued since I have put him in the tank, and I am becoming very worried about the loach.
I know they are nocturnal and he has probably had a traumatic move to a new environment. But I was not expecting him to remain completely motionless and not breathe for long periods of time.
It’s very scary and traumatising.

I have got my net and moved him two or three times when my nerves got to me, and he takes him some persuading to suddenly kick of and move again. Only to come to rest and eventually stop breathing again! At the moment his just laying there balanced on his fins right at the front of the aquarium.

Please someone reassure me this is natural behaviour or give me some constructive advice.

Thanks
 
It should be ok - I have a weather loach which I've had for a couple of years and he often rests motionless and it can be hard to tell if his gills are moving, but he is healthy and active also. As long as your loach doesn't do this permanently but moves around some of the time (esp. at feeding time), it's alright. Also the weather can make a difference (which is why they're called weather loaches) - different air pressure can make them more or less active.
 
joephys: I'll be sure to keep an eye on him. He has a huge vase/pot with lots of holes to hide out in, a huge plant with big leaves (which he is under at the moment), and of course a fine sand substrate he can burrow in. I think he is okay for hiding spaces.

momar: Yeah someone else on another forum told me they are quite lazy and rest for ages. As i have only just added him to the aquarium, i wont be feeding him for 24 hours (so not until this time tomorrow). I'll let you know if he becomes active durring feeding time. Be sure to check this topic tomorrow :)

Thanks
 
don't worry if he's not breathing through his gills, weather loaches have the ability to breathe through their intestinal tract, even if it seems that hes not breathing he probably is using some oxygen in his gut instead of his gills
 
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