New Clown Loaches - What's Normal

[paconubbins]

I'm new the hobby and have some questions...I'm sure you'll want to know something about me first, so...I have a 37 gallon tank with an Eheim canister filter and bubble wall. The tank has been up and running for over 2 months and I first put fish in 7 weeks ago (8 Serpae Tetra). 12 days ago I added 3 clown loaches and one died 4 days later. Matching what I was seeing and things I read on the internet I thought maybe it was ammonia toxicity. I changed some water, added a half dose of Aqueon Water Conditioner (says it detoxifies ammonia) and bought an ammonia meter that sticks in the tank. At first the meter read zero but it's climbed to 0.05 over the past few days. I've been doing 10% water changes every day since it hit that level and adding half doses of the water conditioner. I'm wondering if the tank was not done cycling and if the loaches are stressed. They seem to hover mid tank level in a corner behind a plant...near the filter intake. They are moving their gills somewhat quickly but I'm not sure what's normal and they are swimming/hovering...do they get winded like us?. I've tested oxygen a few times and it's always 7.5 or higher. pH is 6.5-7.5 when I've tested it. Nitrates are zero...one at best. Not sure about Nitrites - don't have that test. I guess my question is what is normal loach behavior? Oh...eating...they seem to be interested at times but are not aggressive enough to get to the food before the tetras. Do they forage at night? Does it sound like I have problems or am I stressed for nothing? Thanx!

[starsplitter7]

You are having a problem. It sounds like you're not finished cycling and by adding the clowns you increased your bioload, which the bacteria are not able to handle right now. I would change 20% of the water a day until things settle down. Also Prime (a water conditioner) can really help out by reducing Ammonia and Nitrite toxicity. The clowns are having problems breathing which is why they are hovering and flapping their gills. Do you have places for the clowns to hide?

Knowing your Nitrites would help you find out if you are cycled. The Ammonia should be 0, the Nitrite should be 0 and the Nitrate should be less than 20. If the Ammonia and/or Nitrites are above 0, then you are probably not cycled.

I would increase the oxygen. Drop the water level if you have a hang on the back filter, so the water splashes into the tank.

And unfortunately, your tank is much too small for clowns. They grow to be 12-16" and are very chunky fish. If they are in small tanks growing up they may become stunted and deformed.

Clowns are scaleless and very susceptible to bad water quality, so do your best to get the water quality sorted out. And we have all made these same mistakes starting out, so don't beat yourself up. You'll need to work hard to fix it though.

[silvermoon]

Everything starsplitter said.

You may want to return the clowns to the store if possible. Ideally you should have a minimum of 5 clowns in a minimum of 75 gallons. I started out like you did and it mostly worked out, but it isn't good for the fish. Also, my tank was cycled when I added them.

Clowns prefer sinking pellets and wafers, not flake food. They may learn to eat flake but it might take a few days especially with piggy tetras. Get some sinking Hikari wafers or shrimp pellets. Frozen brine shrimp and blood worms are also popular with my clowns but the tetras will also gobble those.

Get an actual ammonia test as well as one that does nitrites. When cycling you really need tests for all three.

[paconubbins]

Thanx for the good advice. In response to some of your points...

The LFS told me the tank would be OK for a year or two but once they outgrow the tank I can trade down to a smaller size fish.

I'll lower the water level and cross my fingers.

I dropped a sinking wafer in there this morning and it seems untouched.

I like the idea of asking if the LFS will "board" loaches while the tank finishes doing what it needs to do.

Thanx!

[Diana]

Look here at Loaches for an article about the fishless cycle.