Advice please

[Markodarlo]

Hi there, i am just looking for advice really i recently purchased 2 Clown Loach from my local fish supplier, they are only about 1.5" at the moment, howver my concern is that at first they were both quite lively, but now one keeps going missing for ages and when i do see it it seems to be struggling to swim properly, infact whilst observing it the other day it was as though it was just being carried around by the current and then just going into freefall to the bottom, it does't seem to have left the bottom of the tank for a few days now though, it is also spening a lot of time on it side, now i have read that it is commen for them to turn on there side but the difficult with actually swimming is concerning me, i have ben reading on here tonight and am wondering if it is ick but am not 100% sure, any help would be gratfully appriciated. Many thanks, Mark.

[Diana]

Hello, Mark, Welcome to Loaches.
Yes, a Loach swimming and acting as you describe is indeed sick.
While they are quite willing to relax in almost any orientation they ought to be in control of their swimming, and not just drift around the tank like that. They may sleep or rest upside-down, sideways... but they are strong swimmers and rarely allow the current to sweep them around.
Mine will sometimes play in the current, swimming up stream for a little bit, then relaxing and sort of surfing back downstream. They are in control though, not just drifting in the water.

Little Loaches like yours are hard to acclimate to new water conditions. Did you check the water chemistry at the store (or in the bag)?
Loaches of all ages may be carrying a load of internal parasites. Were these buys reasonably fat (at least no skinny) when you got them? Were there other Loaches in the same tank that were skinny?

Do these guys have any spots (red or white), frayed fins or anything else wrong?

[Markodarlo]

Hi Diana, thanks for your reply, i had a water sample tested at the store where i bought them, they were in tanks with other Clowns, and looked healty and well, i have just noticed as i got a closer lok that there is red patch around its gill and seems to be breathing rapid, i think from what i have read it maybe me Ich? but not sure. My other half thinks i have gone mad now as it is 02.15am here and i am sat up keeping an eye on it as if it stays still to long a red melon gourami i have in there keeps thinking it can start having a nibble, luckily the Clown is wise and makes a move for it.

[Diana]

Have a look into Gill Flukes, too. There are several parasites that can attack fish, and irritated gills is indeed one sign of any of several parasites.
Best way to deal with new fish is to quarantine them in a separate tank from your main tank until they are healthy. You can then medicate as needed without exposing your other tank and fish to meds they do not need.

Very young Clown Loaches like this will need a lot of careful feeding, too. Gouramis are very greedy fish, and the extra food you intend for the babies will make the Gourami overweight, perhaps kill it.

With 2 Clown Loaches, smaller than 2" I would set them up in a 10 gallon tank (even a 5 gallon would work for 1" to 1.5" fish) and treat them specifically as they need to get healthy and grow quickly.
It is like getting a young puppy: You do not allow the adult dogs to eat all the puppy's food, and the puppies get special treatment for worms, vaccinations and so on that is a different schedule from the adult dogs.

Metric: These fish are just about 4 cm long. (1" is about 2.5 cm) I am suggesting a tank between 20-40 liters for them. Many medicines in the US are labeled 'per 10 gallons', making a 5 gallon or 10 gallon an easy tank to medicate.