Loach stuck, real problem

[palaeodave]

What a relief, Dave! I am often of the opinion that if a loach can get itself into a tight-looking hole, usually, given a bit of time and left to it's own devices, it can get out again. I'd be inclined to use some Melafix along with lots of frequent partial water changes to keep up excellent water quality.

Best of luck,

Emma

Thank you, I'll get some first thing tomorrow morning. I think you may be right about loaches in tight holes but after six hours of (often violent) thrashing she hadn't budged a millimetre. I think she only got out because I gave her a bit of a push. Not clear of the woods yet, I'm worried about internal damage that I may have caused when I tried forcing her through.

I don't know if I did the right thing or not but I'm determined to never have to make those decisions again! Blocked up any potential traps with old fliter sponge for now. Will silicone in some pebbles once everything has settled down.

[saphphx]

probably the thought of being boiled put her on the move

I'd use Melafix or a tonic. I normally use lots of stress coat and tonic, as for the last 2-3 years I have always forgotten to get melafix EVERYTIME I've gone to the fish shop.

Good luck and congrats to the fish for freeing herself I hope she suprises you by being well and alive tomorrow Keep us updated!!

[loachmom]

So glad she's out; hope all is well in the morning.

[palaeodave]

I'm very happy to report that she's still alive. (Not sure why I keep saying she, I think its a boy.) Not terribly active though. I fed them a bag of live bloodworm, did a big water change and treated the tank with melafix. Just have to wait and see now.

Btw, bloodworms are these fellas aren't they....

[loachmom]

That's great! Hoping for a full recovery.

[LoachOrgy]

good news!

[saphphx]

that's fantastic!

Yeah, I think those are bloodworms - make my skin crawl seeing them big enough that they aren't just "squiggles" always gets me lol. Maybe I'm to girly for fishkeeping

[Littlelady]

That's excellent news! I hope she (or he) makes a speedy recovery...

[palaeodave]

Still alive but very inactive. Took these in the last couple of minutes...

[shari2]

Whew! that's great news! Hope she makes it through ok. I'd second Emma's suggestion of some melafix.

So the root ornament is out of the tank now, right?

She/he may be sore. I'm betting it hurts to move.

[palaeodave]

It does look like its hurting her to move. She doesn't flex right round like they normally do. The tank is on its first day of melafix treatment. The inside of the root ornament is where the loaches sleep so rather than remove it I've plugged up the dangerous gaps. Once I've moved to London in the summer I'll be getting a bigger tank and none of these fake decorations will be following the fish over.

Quick question about melafix. Is it meant to make the water a bit cloudy? And on the label it says "...for 7 days followed by a 25% water change." Now is that after each day's treatment or at the end of the seven days? I was planning on doing small changes every day anyway.....

[shari2]

Yes, it might cloud the water a bit and sometimes you'll see some bubbles/foam. That's normal.

Following the directions on the bottle you build up a significant load of the stuff. I usually DO make water changes since whenever I use it I'm also generally trying to keep very clean water conditions at the same time. I just add the amount needed into the water I'm adding back to the tank.

[palaeodave]

Oh thats interesting, I was going to add the full whack for the volume of the tank. Do you recommend only adding the amount for the water I change then? Is it safe to add the full amount every day?

[saphphx]

what I do with other meds (not used melafix) is the following, however mine are treat on day one and four, then on seven do a change:

Day One: Treat the tank
Day Two and Three: 25% change, treat the 25% of water you put back in the bucket then slowly add back in
Day Four: No water change, treat the whole tank as on instructions
Day Five and Six: 25% change, treat the 25% of water you put back in the bucket then slowly add back in
Day Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten: 25% changes, no more medication, plenty of stress coat, then treat the tank as you would normally, unless you need to repeat or prolong treatment

Hope that helps

[wasserscheu]

... I´m not really sure wether I should post the following, but as it turnes hopefully to a happy end... I´d try a soldering iron to melt the plastic, or heat up a wire or thin knofe with a candle, and work my way through the platstic, letting the poor guy take some good breath in between the wire heating sessions... the last bit of material break open... I know sounds already scary, most likely not as easy as it sounds...
Good luck during recovery, perhaps not feeding toooo much, to avoid pressure from the intestines...

Wolfram