Loaches Online Forum

Hello everybody,
I have a small tank (30L), with one hillstream loach and 8 cardinal tetra (although I'm not fully sure that it is a hillstream loach).

Some days ago I saw a couple of short 'threads' hanging from the edge of the loach, and now the 'threads' are all around (see the pic.). Anyone have any idea what is it? is it any disease/parasite etc? if so, how to treat it?

ps: The water has lots of oxygen, or at least I think so. The filter blows many little bubbles into the water.

[img]http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/attac ... or.jpg[img][/img]

I don't see a pic.

The link is http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/attac ... ckigor.jpg but requires a login?

Sorry. Here the pic. again.

http://picasaweb.google.com/elivaos/Dro ... 2714984578

once again.

Yes, that is a hillstream loach. Not sure what those things are on the fins. They might be anchor worms. Hopefully, someone will come along that knows for sure what they are and how to treat them. Sorry I can't be more help.

Hello Jim,
thank you for answering so fast!
I get the impression that the "threads" are part of the skin... kind of long scales. Is that possible?

All other fish are ok.

I don't think so. I have seen hillstreams with one or two of those, but never so many.

Do you have a medication tank? If so I’d run a treatment of anti external parasite medication.

Hi elivaos!

elivaos wrote:
I get the impression that the "threads" are part of the skin... kind of long scales. Is that possible?
All other fish are ok.

I think so, too.
My Beaufortia kweichowensis comes to look like that once in a while, too.
When I watched it for the first time, I thought that I was sick.
However, I think the symptom to be their healthy physiology phenomenon now.
I think that it resembles ecdysis.

Hello Hokum, Jim and odyssey,
thank you for answering.
odyssey: I think we are seeing the same phenomenon on your loaches and mine... phew! what a relief.

I can't be absolutely sure, but I think my loach (which we call Igor) seemed to be ok in the morning. But I had to leave in a hurry, then I can't be 100% sure. I'll check again tonight and update.

Thanks!!

odyssey wrote:
I think that it resembles ecdysis.
[

Very interesting! I would have bet that it was a parasite. Never heard the term ecdysis so I looked it up.

" The shedding of an outer integument or layer of skin, as by insects, crustaceans, and snakes; molting."

Hello everybody.
The loach is OK

odyssey was right, and it seems that pieces of his "skin" just fell off.

Yesterday:


Today:


I'll keep him/her under check.

Thanks all!

Interesting, i've never seen this in fish before.

This loach is pretty shy and some days you can't even see him/her. I would not be surprised if I would have missed this.
Who else, apart from odyssey and myself, have seen these in the beaufortia kweichowensis?