Loaches Online Forum

Short Story: In my 55gal I have 2 clown loaches whom I think are depressed. A couple of days ago a long-time tankmate and "housemate" of theirs died. Is it possible they are mourning him?

Long Story. I had a Rainbow shark named Chiple (spoiled in Spanish) and he guarded his castle against all intruders, I bought the two baby clown loaches and for some reason Chiple liked them and let them in his castle. About a year or so later, Chiple died or what I assume to be old age as he was 5ish. The last couple of days Bob and Bobina (the loaches) have beensulking and Bobina refuses to come out of the castle, even to eat, Bob comes out but is grayed out. Bob is resting on a terrace of the castle and breathing very quickly, No one else is affected. Ammonia O, Nitrite Om Nitrate 40 (I know this is high, today is water change day but is is well below freezing; I will do the water change tomorrow as it is supposed to at least warm above freezing) temp 78, I don't have a kit to test pH or water hardness.

Basically I want to know if my loaches are depressed (Is that even possible?) or if they are sick. If they are sick, I don't know what it is at I don't see any of the usual suspects (ich, fungus, fin rot, etc.) I suppose it could be from the high nitrates but I know they've been fine through higher nitrates and no one else is affected. Please help me if you can. Thank you.

I am no expert, but I would be very worried that what killed your Rainbow Shark is also making your Clowns ill. I do believe that fish grieve just like ferrets, cats and dogs do. But because you have a fish with labored breathing, I would be concerned about illness.

Ick can hide in the gills where you can't see it. If your fish are stressed, they can be more susceptible to Ick.

Do you have a hang on the back filter? If you do, lower your water level an inch or two to force more oxygen into the water to help relieve the clowns' symptoms. I would do a good water change as soon as possible -- about 25% and see if that helps them.

Is there anyway something could have gotten into the water like a cleaner, air freshener, pesticide, salt . . .? If it is possible, it would be a good idea to do a water change ASAP. If you used salt, make sure you don't change the level too quickly.

When everything is sorted out, make sure you get a bigger tank and a few more clowns. They like to be in large numbers.

Good luck. Give us an update. And let us know where you live. Town and country.

Only an extra advise:

Clown loaches should never be kept in number less than 5. They can get real sad in small groups and can even die of lonlyness.

Marcos