Loaches Online Forum

It took a while to notice that one of my loaches has been in hiding. Turns out he was home in bed, feeling terribly ill! When I chased him out to see why he was hiding, he came out looking like this!



(his eyes aren't white, that's just the camera flash)

So he's very pale, with a slight red blush in the tail and head (redder than in the pic) and those small, brown spots on his side. His behaviour is very sluggish, and I don't think he's eating, though I assume he's been surviving like this for at least a few days. I've had him for about 3 years, so no idea why he'd get sick now. The 4 other loaches in the tank are all fine.

I'll take him to the pet shop as soon as I can, but can anyone identify the disease and advise what to do? And is it contagious? :s

Tank is 90cm x 50cm x 35cm = ~160l. Only 5 clown loaches, nothing else. No live plants. pH is ~7.3, thermo is working, ammonia etc. seems ok.

Thanks for any help!

Is he the smallest?

Hi, no, one of the largest. They don't ever hassle each other, if that's what you mean. They all get along very well.

What are the most recent water tests?

I would remove this one to a hospital tank. If it can be set up where he can see his buddies that would be good.
I do not know what is going on, but I would start with plenty of water changes to make sure there is a very low bacteria level, and that the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are also kept as low as possible.

Bare bottom tank for easiest cleaning, but include a couple of rocks where he can feel safer, and some floating plants to dim the light. Do not make a snug little cave. If the disease is one that lives off the fish for any part of its life it will do so in the cave, and easily re-infect the fish. A flow-through sort of arch is OK as long as you can clean it out often.

Thanks Diana, got him in a separate tank, will see how it goes!

If you are not treating with any medication, you could run a UV sterilizer. This would kill any bacteria that left the fish before they would get around to finding him, or re-infecting him.