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Something’s wrong with my clown loach

hypnogogia

hypnogogia

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UKAPS Team
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6 Apr 2017
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Location
Oxfordshire
One of my clown loaches has had a fairly rapid weight loss and look pretty skeletal. See photo below. He’s still got a good appetite and comes to take food from the surface with all the other fish, including the other clown loach I have. His colour is good and there are no obvious marks on his body. He’s one of the oldest inhabitants, since the beginning of this tank in 7 years ago. What could be wrong with him?

IMG_0022.jpeg
 
Hi @hypnogogia, This sounds consistent with nematode infestation. Did you recently add livestock or plants perhaps, live food? I believe there are possible cures, but I do not know any details. Let's see what others around here thinks.

These guys can get really old btw.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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Hello - can you provide a few pictures of the tank and some information on the filter and the media, please?

The razor-like back would symbolise some form of wasting disease but would like to hear more about the environment.
 
I filter over foam and K1 media only, using an Oase Biomaster 600. I introduced a new plant this week, but the problem has been occurring for longer. My conditions in terms of water parameters and temperature are very consistent. I do a WC weekly, changing 50-60% using remineralised rainwater thats been filtered over carbon and UV for 24 hrs. I can provide more tank photos tomorrow when the lights are on again.
 
OK - please provide as much detail as possible.

If a moderator can post the link to the "minimum information required list, that would be great. (I cannot find it - sorry!)
 
Conort2 said:
Give esha ndx a go, it’s very effective against nematodes. Wasting is common in newly imported loaches but surprised to see you have had this fish for a long time.

How big is the fish? It seems to be very small for a 7 year old clown loach.
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Agreed, those guys are usually over 6 inches by that age!
 
Conort2 said:
Give esha ndx a go, it’s very effective against nematodes. Wasting is common in newly imported loaches but surprised to see you have had this fish for a long time.

How big is the fish? It seems to be very small for a 7 year old clown loach.
Click to expand...
I'd say it's about 4 inches head to tail.

Thank you, I'd researched esha nix as an alternative and have ordered some. I assume recovery will be quite slow, but we will see.
 
hypnogogia said:
I'd say it's about 4 inches head to tail.

Thank you, I'd researched esha nix as an alternative and have ordered some. I assume recovery will be quite slow, but we will see.
Click to expand...
Strange that it’s so small for that age, they’re not the fastest growing fish but I’d expect it to be a fair bit bigger.

If it is internal nematodes ndx will be very effective and you should start to see the fish put on weight pretty quickly.
 
I had a bunch of clown loaches for around 8 years. The last year one of them become similar and died within a few weeks last year.
And naturally the other loaches will nip and eat it up. So perhaps best to pop into another tank in dose medication. Good luck with them 🙂
 
I’ve now treated with Esha NDX for 24 hours, as instructed on the label and then carried out my weekly 50% water change. How long before I know if the treatment has worked?
 
I treated 1.5 weeks ago. Should I be able to see any weight gain by now if the treatment has worked? It’s still looking emaciated.
 
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