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Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:49 am
by clownsmith
Hi after noticing one of my clown loaches has become more swollen around the belly area and a faint grey area appear in the belly of the fish im starting to wonder if my fish is carrying eggs? as ive been doing a lot of research into this with a lot of people saying they don't reproduce in captivity and don't sexually mature until bout 7" im struggling to understand the cycle of my clown loach as it will be swollen for a few days and then not as big, my clown loach is about 5 inch but here is the question I have another clown loach which is about 7-8 inch could this fish be causing my 5" fish to be producing eggs?

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 2:07 pm
by Fishwife
What are your parameters? How is she acting? Hiding? Shy? Sluggish?is she eating?

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:06 pm
by joeybab3
could you post some more info such as pics and what clownsmith said?

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:30 am
by Ardillakilla
I have a few clowns with big bellies. It's been an ongoing issue. It used to be just one but now it's several. I think it's worms. I've treated with praziquantel and then levamisole to no effect. I'm going to try levamisole again when the pH is <7.

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 2:28 pm
by djoneser
Female clown loaches tend to expand on the lower half of their bodies as the grow larger. Without some pictures of what you consider a "big belly", it is very hard to help.

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 3:13 pm
by redshark1
My two females are pretty fat, I assume with eggs. The four males are slim and considerably smaller. All fish are approaching 20 years old. There is often vigorous spawning behaviour with males chasing females determinedly but I have seen no eggs laid yet.

Re: Could my clown loach be pregnant?

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 3:47 pm
by Loachloach
Ardillakilla wrote:I have a few clowns with big bellies. It's been an ongoing issue. It used to be just one but now it's several. I think it's worms. I've treated with praziquantel and then levamisole to no effect. I'm going to try levamisole again when the pH is <7.
If you think it's internal parasites, I found a very interesting thread recently how to treat very safely with Epsom salts(magnesium sulfate). Have a look at this link below. I think it's worth a try.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... epsom+salt