Skinny Clown loach

michael.qian

AC Members
Jul 16, 2007
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Just noticed one of my three clown loaches, the smallest one, is dead skinny, like a sheet of paper, another one is also pretty skinny, the last one looks normal.

Should I be worried about this? They all seem healthy and active, apart from the fact one is really skinny and another is also skinny.

Didn't notice they were this skinny before, just noticed now.

Thanks a lot for any advice.
 
So it's good chance it's a internal parasite?

Water quality is good, ammonia & nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 15ppm.

I'm sure it wasn't this skinny yesterday or the day before.
 
So it's good chance it's a internal parasite?
Yes. A lot of loaches are prone to chronic skinny disease so it'll be a good idea to follow the instructions when treating it with Levamisole Hydrochloride before it is too late. I am sure the loach enthusiasts on that site will suggest the use of levamisole hydrochloride.:)
 
Will go in to fish shop tomorrow then.

Are they suppose to display symptoms of being sick? slow? sluggish? All are looking active apart from being skinny.
 
Are they suppose to display symptoms of being sick? slow? sluggish? All are looking active apart from being skinny.
Not just that. Even if the loaches appear to be active and eating well, they still have the chronic skinny disease which if not treated will put your loaches to the worse. Their skull and spinal column will become quite prominent in the later stages wherein you will be unable to treat them for sure.
 
Levamisole is the common treatment for chronic wasting disease, also Prazzipro is often used. Just read that article it has lots of information. Good luck.

So it's good chance it's a internal parasite?

Water quality is good, ammonia & nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 15ppm.

I'm sure it wasn't this skinny yesterday or the day before.

I've never heard of a loach (or any fish) getting deathly thin in a matter of a day or two, so I'd have to guess you just didnt notice? Many wild caught fish come with parasites, especially loaches. Its almost a standard when buying loaches to QT them and treat em for parasites, has nothing much to do with your water quality.
 
Sorry no camera at the moment.

Went into the fish shop today and they said I might not be feeding them enough, which make sense as I feed one cube of blood worm once every other day, on other days I feed flake, which the loaches hardly get any.

So I got a packet of Hakari dried pellets and some Garlic Guard, I'll soak the pellets in garlic and feed them those and see how it goes.
 
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