Loaches Online Forum

Hello: I have two clown loaches who are suddenly sick. Their fins have turned white-ish and have stuff dangling from the fins, like strands but I am not sure it is something like decaying flesh or parasites. I can't figure out whether it is true fin rot or parasites. One of them has clamped fins as well. One has this stuff trailing out from all of it's fins, the other not as bad but that is the one with clamped fins. I put them into a quarantine tank and added fungus clear from Jungle but not sure if that is what they have. Also, should I use half dosage of whatever I use? Thanks for any help

Hi Mitch,

Sorry to hear about your Clown Loaches.

Please can you tell us what your current water parameters are (ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, & pH) in the main tank. Also what size tank did you have the fish in, and how long has it been up and running for? Are the Clowns recent additions? How often do you carry out water changes, and how much do you change at a time? Also what temperature is the main tank at?

The answers to these questions may help some of us here identify what is going on in your tank. If you could post a photo of the affected fish that would also be very helpful.

To me, it does sound like finrot with a secondary infection, such as Flexibacter, but can't be sure until we have more details.

Emma

Hi Emma
Thanks for responding. Well, I don't have all of the info you want such as ph, ammonia levels etc but I can tell you that I have had this tank going for 3+ years and have had the loaches for about 1 year. I did a cleaning/partial water change about 2 weeks before this happened. Unforturnately, one of them died today. The other seems ok for the moment. I will keep you all posted!

You really should have some test kits to hand. Even tanks that have been up and running for some time can encounter problems for a number of reasons, and it is best to rule out water quality problems from the start. You should either go and buy yourself a master test kit set or take a sample of your aquarium water to a reutable lfs and ask them to test it for ammonia and nitrIte for you. Problems such as finrot and the associated secondary infections usually arise from poor water quality.

Good luck,

Emma