New Clowns - skinny?

[pedzola]

So I bought 4 new clowns about 2 weeks ago for my new tank. As mentioned in the other thread, I had been battling a slow cycle (bio-spira not working correctly), and ich on these new clowns at the same time.

My tank is now fully cycled, and all the fish seem to be happy and healthy.

HOWEVER one of the new clowns is still very skinny. His head is wider than his body. He was eating well, and I thought he was just skinny and that he would fatten up.

Well it' sbeen 2 weeks and he looks more or less the same. He was eating well before but the last time I saw him (hard to follow the little guy in a big tank!) at feeding time he didn't seem as interested as he used to be.


I'm starting to think maybe something is wrong? Besides being skinny and this one time seeing him pass up a brine shrimp, I have no reason to believe he is diseased. Should I take him out and treat him anyway?

Do fish often come to pet shops diseased in shipments?


Let me know what you think, thanks.

[mikev]

Could be a parasitic infection, otherwise known as the Skinny Disease. The cases I've seen were caused by tapeworms, but other types of worms and bacteria are possible too.

This is very common in Clowns and other Botia's; probably more common than one out of four.

If you post the pictures, someone can confirm it better, but your description makes me think this is the case.

If you don't feel too attached to this loach and can exchange it at the store, it is probably the best; otherwise, treat. And keep in mind that it is fully possible that some of your other clowns have the same or similar problem, so a course of anti-parasitic meds is a good idea for all.

hth

[pedzola]

Can this spread to the other individuals, or should I only be concerned with the loach that is exhibiting symptoms?

I'd rather not medicate the whole tank if I can take the one little dude out and quarantine him.

I would feel bad taking him back to the store for a new one, cause who knows what they would do to him!

[mikev]

Can this spread to the other individuals, or should I only be concerned with the loach that is exhibiting symptoms?

Depends on what it is, and it is hard to find out, so it is best to assume the worst.
Tapeworms typically would not (they need an intermediate host, impossible in a tank). This is the best scenario, but still your other clowns may have the same problem.
Roundworms (Nematodes) will.
Bacteria will.

You had them only a short time, so there is no way to know if this is infectious.

I'd rather not medicate the whole tank if I can take the one little dude out and quarantine him.

With some roundworms, there is no other choice.

Examine his anus carefully. If you see any signs of worms or irritation, nematodes are likely. If you don't see, you don't know.

I would feel bad taking him back to the store for a new one, cause who knows what they would do to him!

A difficult moral problem,...
I did return a yoyo in this situation but made sure they put him into their q-tank and gave him meds, but this will not work with many stores.... You may want to check if there is another store (not where you bought it) which will take him for free but guarantee treatment.

....

Yeah, if you do decide to treat and it fails, make sure to find out what was it.

[pedzola]

I'm still not convinced that he is sick and not simply just skinny.

It's hard to find a particular loach at feeding time. They are all very small and there are a lot of places to hide in this big tank.

I've seen him eating a few times... even with a little pot belly after feeding time... it was only this one time when I saw him sort of ignore some food right in front of his face.

I will try to find him this evening and watch how he eats.

Are there any other symptoms I should be looking for besides being skinny?

[poeticpyro]

okay...
brine shrimp will not fatten up a baby clown the right way. the best thing to use is bloodworms. they will generally gobble them up, also try lettuce or zucchini. they enjoy those as well. i had a similar problem with one of my clowns (i have many now) and once i got some variety in to their diet, he started eating and getting fat!!

keep us posted..

[pedzola]

Yes bloodworms are definitely their favorite!

I put some in yesterday afternoon and they all chowed down. The guy in question had a little pot belly when feeding time was over.

Maybe he just doesn't like the brine shrimp as much I guess! I'm gonna give him some more time to "fatten up" before I decide that he is diseased.

I will start giving bloodworms on a regular basis (every day). I will try some lettuce tonight (don't think i have any zucchini on hand).

I've been feeding flakes, frozen bring shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and hikari sinking bottom-feeder wafers.