Emaciated Clown Loach
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Keith,chefkeith wrote: I don't have the stomach to take any pics.
If I may suggest: do take pics when you are up to it. It is possible that two weeks or a month from now you will be wondering if the poor fellows are improving and the pictures will help a lot.
And if you succeed, you'll have a series of pictures to frame and put on the wall....
I got a bottle of Ultra Care PX from Petsmart earlier. Just as I was getting ready to clear out and search another tank my left middle finger swelled up and became numb. I have no idea what caused this. This has happened before because of allergic reactions to bloodworms or Coppersafe. I haven’t handled either for awhile though. Maybe it was from the PraziPro or Maracyn that I handled yesterday. Anyways, the finger feels better now.
During this break I decided that I would count my clown loaches. Heck, I'll just count all my fish. I haven't accurately counted them all since last September. To do this I'll have to shut down all the water-bridges, reroute some canister filters, remove all the fish from tank 1, then catch/count each fish from the other 3 tanks and put them all in tank 1. Last time I did this, it took about 6 hours total. I'll have to remove the canopy hoods so that I can take out and search the large pieces of driftwood. This will be a back breaker. On second thought, I don't think I can do this now. I'll have to wait until Saturday or Sunday.
Hopefully there will be some good from this and I find some baby fish; maybe some Kuhli's or Bristlenoses under some driftwood.
In the meantime, I'll continue to look for more sick clowns.
I'll even try to take some more pic's.
I'll have to figure out a way so that something like this doesn't happen again. I hate to think that I give my clowns too much freedom and too many hiding spots.
During this break I decided that I would count my clown loaches. Heck, I'll just count all my fish. I haven't accurately counted them all since last September. To do this I'll have to shut down all the water-bridges, reroute some canister filters, remove all the fish from tank 1, then catch/count each fish from the other 3 tanks and put them all in tank 1. Last time I did this, it took about 6 hours total. I'll have to remove the canopy hoods so that I can take out and search the large pieces of driftwood. This will be a back breaker. On second thought, I don't think I can do this now. I'll have to wait until Saturday or Sunday.
Hopefully there will be some good from this and I find some baby fish; maybe some Kuhli's or Bristlenoses under some driftwood.
In the meantime, I'll continue to look for more sick clowns.
I'll even try to take some more pic's.
I'll have to figure out a way so that something like this doesn't happen again. I hate to think that I give my clowns too much freedom and too many hiding spots.
Update-
My computer has been down for the last few days because of some electrical problems.
Anyways, since my last post, I found 5 Boesemani Rainbowfish with uclers. I Quarantined them in a 10g tank and treated the water with antiboitics and Prazipro. I don't know if this new problem is related to the clown loach problem or not.
The emaciated clowns are still kicking. I gave them a 2nd dose of Maracyn 1&2 and Prazipro this Morning.
I've been feeding all my fish with food (New Life Spectrum Thera +A for Small Fish) dosed with Ultra Cure PX.
My computer has been down for the last few days because of some electrical problems.
Anyways, since my last post, I found 5 Boesemani Rainbowfish with uclers.
I Quarantined them in a 10g tank and treated the water with antiboitics and Prazipro. I don't know if this new problem is related to the clown loach problem or not.The emaciated clowns are still kicking. I gave them a 2nd dose of Maracyn 1&2 and Prazipro this Morning.
I've been feeding all my fish with food (New Life Spectrum Thera +A for Small Fish) dosed with Ultra Cure PX.
If these illnesses are related, I suspect the worst. I think this could very well be Fish Tuberculosis. I'll think more about treating the water in all my tanks with a wide spectrum med.
Other factors maybe-
About a 6 weeks ago, I euthenized 2 Serpae Tetra because they couldn't swim correctly and had formed a curvature in the spine.
About 6 months ago I had a group of Dwarf Neon Rainbows that died from ulcers and wasting away.
Other factors maybe-
About a 6 weeks ago, I euthenized 2 Serpae Tetra because they couldn't swim correctly and had formed a curvature in the spine.
About 6 months ago I had a group of Dwarf Neon Rainbows that died from ulcers and wasting away.
update-
I don't think these 2 sick clowns have been eating. One of the emaciated clowns is near death. I was going to put them both down Saturday, but decided not too. I still feed the fish. I also put a few snails in there to eat any uneaten food. I've been doing large water changes about every other day because the water has been stinking bad. The noxious smell is probably the chemical defenses from the slime coat that clowns may or may not have. The chemical smell is so stronge that it makes my eyes water.
I have had some whole cloves soaking in a gallon of water in a 5g tank since Saturday. I was going to euthenize them in this tank. The soaking cloves are making my fish room smell a little better in the meantime.
I'm still using the Ultra Cure PX with my other fish. I haven't noticed any changes in the main tanks.
Time was short this weekend so I didn't get to count my fish. I haven't noticed any other sick fish though. I did find 3 more Boesemani fry Yesterday, so things can't be all that bad.
I don't think these 2 sick clowns have been eating. One of the emaciated clowns is near death. I was going to put them both down Saturday, but decided not too. I still feed the fish. I also put a few snails in there to eat any uneaten food. I've been doing large water changes about every other day because the water has been stinking bad. The noxious smell is probably the chemical defenses from the slime coat that clowns may or may not have. The chemical smell is so stronge that it makes my eyes water.
I have had some whole cloves soaking in a gallon of water in a 5g tank since Saturday. I was going to euthenize them in this tank. The soaking cloves are making my fish room smell a little better in the meantime.
I'm still using the Ultra Cure PX with my other fish. I haven't noticed any changes in the main tanks.
Time was short this weekend so I didn't get to count my fish. I haven't noticed any other sick fish though. I did find 3 more Boesemani fry Yesterday, so things can't be all that bad.
I put one of the clowns down a few days ago. He was curled up, laying on his side, and breathing heavily. I put him in the gallon of clove water that I had and in 1 hour the bath put him to sleep. It was a peaceful death, his breathing slowed down ever so slowly until he stopped breathing. At least now I know for sure whole cloves work as well as clove oil. I used about 30 whole cloves in the gallon of water. The cloves were soaking in the water for a few days. I think clove water will be a permanent addition to the fishroom because it smells very pleasant.
The good is that I think the other clown is getting better.
The good is that I think the other clown is getting better.
I think the tuberculosis thought may be a good one, unfortunately. Esp. if you've found rainbows with ulcers, and had other fish with deformed spines. Sorry
Sounds like a huge job you have on your hands. Hope you can clean it out and get past it. Post some pics when you can, and good luck this weekend with all the breakdowns, counting, etc.
Keep us posted.
Sounds like a huge job you have on your hands. Hope you can clean it out and get past it. Post some pics when you can, and good luck this weekend with all the breakdowns, counting, etc.
Keep us posted.
It's been a month and the emaciated clown is still hanging on. He sleeps under a rock all the time. Today I took a look at him and he looks skinnier. I don't think he's eaten even a bite of food since.
I had Maracyn I & II in the tank for 3 weeks and I've had Prazopri in the tank for the past week.
I'm not sure what I'll do yet. I might let him be or I could just pull the plug.
The 5 infected Boesemani are doing about the same. I've been using a variety of gel-tec products (Neomycn, Tetracyline, and Penicillin) with them, along with Maracyn I & II. Besides the ulcer sores they seem fine. They are active and are always hungry.
I don't think this is fish TB anymore, as I have about 100 healthy fish in my main tanks. With the 5 Q'd Boesemani, I think this is Flexibacter Columnaris caused by a water quality problem. The 2 clown loaches must of had an internal parasite/worm.
I had Maracyn I & II in the tank for 3 weeks and I've had Prazopri in the tank for the past week.
I'm not sure what I'll do yet. I might let him be or I could just pull the plug.
The 5 infected Boesemani are doing about the same. I've been using a variety of gel-tec products (Neomycn, Tetracyline, and Penicillin) with them, along with Maracyn I & II. Besides the ulcer sores they seem fine. They are active and are always hungry.
I don't think this is fish TB anymore, as I have about 100 healthy fish in my main tanks. With the 5 Q'd Boesemani, I think this is Flexibacter Columnaris caused by a water quality problem. The 2 clown loaches must of had an internal parasite/worm.
Hi everyone 
I've been a reader for quite a while, but this is my first post
I have a small clown loach that is just as emaciated, if not worse
At the LFS last week, I went to get 3 CL's but they had 4 in the tank, and I didn't want to leave one lonely loach... Even though 2 of the loaches looked very ill (I didn't have to pay for the two small & skinny ones)
Everyone was in the same tank (loaches & tetras) so I "took the lot" - I didn't expect the two ill looking loaches to survive, but one has (I only lost one of the tetras as well, when I expected to lose a lot more than that).
The two "healthy" loaches are solid (and regaining some colour instead of being "grey"), and the tetras have all "coloured up" in only one week as well
- the poor little loach that I thought would keel over like the other one, is eating happily & swimming around as if nothing is wrong... Exept he (?) looks like a skeleton with black stripes
I haven't started any treatment, as I haven't seen what I'm looking for yet (I'm not entirely sure of what I'm looking for )...
I've seen levamisole mentioned in threads for something (can't quite remember what)... I actually have some in my cupboard, it's for the dogs!
All the decent fish forums are US/UK based, & I'm in Australia, so I'm at a bit of a loss for getting an idea of what I'm looking for to treat this skinny fish (I guess if I'm going to treat him, I should probably still treat the others, since they all came from the same place, same tank)...
chefkeith, good luck with your skinny loach - if I get the chance I'll post a pic of my skinny dude... Honestly, he's that skinny, he's see-through
I've been a reader for quite a while, but this is my first post
I have a small clown loach that is just as emaciated, if not worse
At the LFS last week, I went to get 3 CL's but they had 4 in the tank, and I didn't want to leave one lonely loach... Even though 2 of the loaches looked very ill (I didn't have to pay for the two small & skinny ones)
Everyone was in the same tank (loaches & tetras) so I "took the lot" - I didn't expect the two ill looking loaches to survive, but one has
(I only lost one of the tetras as well, when I expected to lose a lot more than that).The two "healthy" loaches are solid (and regaining some colour instead of being "grey"), and the tetras have all "coloured up" in only one week as well
- the poor little loach that I thought would keel over like the other one, is eating happily & swimming around as if nothing is wrong... Exept he (?) looks like a skeleton with black stripes I haven't started any treatment, as I haven't seen what I'm looking for yet (I'm not entirely sure of what I'm looking for
)... I've seen levamisole mentioned in threads for something (can't quite remember what)... I actually have some in my cupboard, it's for the dogs!
All the decent fish forums are US/UK based, & I'm in Australia, so I'm at a bit of a loss for getting an idea of what I'm looking for to treat this skinny fish (I guess if I'm going to treat him, I should probably still treat the others, since they all came from the same place, same tank)...
chefkeith, good luck with your skinny loach - if I get the chance I'll post a pic of my skinny dude... Honestly, he's that skinny, he's see-through
It's also know under the name levasole. http://www.thepigsite.com/BusinessDirec ... splay=2784EdenAU wrote:> . . . snip . . . <
I've seen levamisole mentioned in threads for something (can't quite remember what)... I actually have some in my cupboard, it's for the dogs!
> . . . snip . . . <
We all seem to have trouble finding it.
The most promising source for it that I've seen is here:
http://petsupplies4less.com/i_016013-1_ ... r+20.17+gm
However this may not do you much good downunder. Part of the problem is it's a swine de-wormer and you need to be in a farming/livestock area with good feed stores. People around here know what I'm talking about, but don't carry it.
Jungle Labs makes a couple of products of interest. Do any of the stores in your area carry Jungle Labs products?
Parasite Clear Tank Buddies: http://www.junglelabs.com/pages/details.asp?item=TB635
Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food™: http://www.junglelabs.com/pages/details.asp?item=JF170
Will anyone ship overseas to you?
Hi qumqats - I don't have any trouble at all getting levamisol, it's as easy to get as buying a candy bar! 
The only thing is, I don't know how it's used with fish - or whether it would benefit my little skinny clown loach (my daughter has called him (?) Stripes... How original eh?
)
I haven't succeeded in getting a clear photo of him yet, as he doesn't stay still long enough for the digital camera
The only thing is, I don't know how it's used with fish - or whether it would benefit my little skinny clown loach (my daughter has called him (?) Stripes... How original eh?
)I haven't succeeded in getting a clear photo of him yet, as he doesn't stay still long enough for the digital camera
ahhh!! you're inquiring about dosage. lets see what I can find.EdenAU wrote:Hi qumqats - I don't have any trouble at all getting levamisol, it's as easy to get as buying a candy bar!
The only thing is, I don't know how it's used with fish - or whether it would benefit my little skinny clown loach (my daughter has called him (?) Stripes... How original eh?
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... t=levasole
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... ole+dosage
here we go, some talk about dosagehttp://aquaweb.pair.com/forums/archives ... read=92050
this is all based on having it in a power that you mix with water.
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