Suicide, I'm Serious

[Zaffimitsu]

My weather loach must be messed up. It's trying to kill itself by slamming into the wall, jumping and hitting the tank top, and swimming into the wall. It is barely alive, and it only swims it bursts of freak-outs. Everytime it flips over, I move his tail some and he freaks out and jumps all over the place.

It's official, I'm screwed. No way this fish is living. I wish it could've lived a full life. I really do. Premature R.I.P. Rarity. I loved you.

[mikev]

(Checked your previous post)

Hopefully, it is not high on melafix. Melafix works like PCP on some loaches and may even kill.

Regardless, don't touch it. It is going to make it more nervous.
Two things that may help:
1. Good water change -- especially if you have lots of melafix in it.
2. Close the tank and make sure that the light is turned off, let it relax in the dark.

Good luck.

[Zaffimitsu]

(Checked your previous post)

Hopefully, it is not high on melafix. Melafix works like PCP on some loaches and may even kill.

Regardless, don't touch it. It is going to make it more nervous.
Two things that may help:
1. Good water change -- especially if you have lots of melafix in it.
2. Close the tank and make sure that the light is turned off, let it relax in the dark.

Good luck.

Did a 75% water change, twice, last night when we rearranged my room. I doubt it was the melafix, as all my other fish are fine. I added some bacterial supplement after treating him, and always fed it the right foods. Thanks for responding, though.

[mikev]

Melafix does cause this kind of reaction in kuhlis. In fact, I used it to make kuhli swim so I could catch them...

Again, in kuhlis, such a large water change will often cause excessive swimming as the fish adjusts. Suspect the same is with dojos. Unless the fish hurts itself, it should slow down within a couple of days,...just don't excite it any further.

[Zaffimitsu]

Melafix does cause this kind of reaction in kuhlis. In fact, I used it to make kuhli swim so I could catch them...

Again, in kuhlis, such a large water change will often cause excessive swimming as the fish adjusts. Suspect the same is with dojos. Unless the fish hurts itself, it should slow down within a couple of days,...just don't excite it any further.

I forgot to mention he keeps flipping over and can't really swim straight. His whiskers are drooped and he won't eat. Nothing is visibly wrong from the outside.

[mikev]

Sorry, no good ideas for this, not enough of a picture.

I'd probably suspect a swim-bladder disease, it happens with loaches but obviously manifests itself differently than with top fish. If you suspect this may be the case (google around for it to make sure), antibiotics may help.

[TammyLiz]

I didn't notice this thread before I replied to the other one. Sorry. I posted a request for water quality stats, in case there is a chance of that being an issue. Two 75% changes are going to screw with those results, though. I was looking to see if there was a chance of shock or something.

I have heard of bad reactions to melafix in bettas, with speculation that since they breathe at the surface they get an overdose of it because it tends to collect at the surface. Weather loaches gulp air at the surface, too, so I agree with mikev that this could be the issue with slamming into the sides of the tank and such.

Do post some water quality test results, though. Its not likely to do a lot since you've done such crazy water changes, but at least you'll know if there is a mini-cycle going on or something.

[sophie]

I've read your RIP thread, I'm sorry.

I'm not completely convinced by the swim-bladder theory; I think it's possible that it's a neurological issue, which could well be due to a bacterial infection - the initial symptoms certainly sound like that. If the loach damaged its spine jumping I think it's certainly a possibility that the infection spread.

very best of luck for the future.

[mikev]

Fully possible.

Either way, antibiotics would have been the thing to try.