Horseface may be dying, please advise

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Laura Brighton
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Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Michigan

Horseface may be dying, please advise

Post by Laura Brighton » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:44 pm

We just got a horseface one week ago and it doesn't look good, doesn't hide anymore, lays around, mostly belly up and gills move really slowly. I don't think it is eating, no other signs of disease. Any advice? Is it normal for them to play dead like this? I also have two clowns and they are fine and active. Thanks.
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Mark in Vancouver
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Location: British Columbia

Post by Mark in Vancouver » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:51 pm

This is NOT normal for a horsefaced loach. Do you have a quarantine tank or can you set one up? If you can report your water parameters it would be helpful.

How large is the loach? What is your substrate like? What temperature are you keeping them at?
Your vantage point determines what you can see.
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Laura Brighton
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by Laura Brighton » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:59 pm

No, I don't have a q-tank, I think the problem is that he isn't eating. I'll try bloodworm, also the tank is 78 degrees, don't know the parameters. Haven't had a problem with the other fish (guppies and 2 clowns). thanks for the questions and input.
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Laura Brighton
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by Laura Brighton » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:01 pm

oh, its between and 3 and 4 inches long
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Mark in Vancouver
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Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:41 pm
Location: British Columbia

Post by Mark in Vancouver » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:55 pm

For a loach of that size, I would expect pretty resilient health. I keep mine a little cooler than that - down around 74F. But it sounds like the problem is more complex that simply not eating. And if the fish is belly-up at all, it's not going to have much new interest in food.

You may be seeing evidence of parasites or some other disease. Are there any other physical signs of ill-health beyond this weakness?

It's a shame you're having a bad experience with this loach. They are great fish to keep if you can get them settled in alright.
Your vantage point determines what you can see.
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Fear_The_Loach
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Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:07 am
Location: USA

Post by Fear_The_Loach » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:56 pm

Does he swim oddly? If so, he may have a swim-bladder diorder. Only a guess, though.
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Mark in Vancouver
Posts: 14252
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:41 pm
Location: British Columbia

Post by Mark in Vancouver » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:59 pm

Fear_The_Loach wrote:Does he swim oddly? If so, he may have a swim-bladder diorder. Only a guess, though.
For this species of loach to spend any time at all belly-up is a sign of something far more grave than swim bladder trouble. I also think that swim bladder problems are not common among loaches unless they are triggered by other factors.
Your vantage point determines what you can see.
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Laura Brighton
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by Laura Brighton » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:03 pm

Bad news. Stahley the horse face has passed on to a better place. Too bad because he was really cute and the kids loved him. I suspect he was not healthy, the store we bought from was not clean and my gut was screaming to get out, but the kids were with me and I promised them a new loach. Lesson learned. thanks for the help
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