Page 1 of 1
Horseface may be dying, please advise
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:44 pm
by Laura Brighton
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.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:51 pm
by Mark in Vancouver
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?
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:59 pm
by Laura Brighton
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.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:01 pm
by Laura Brighton
oh, its between and 3 and 4 inches long
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:55 pm
by Mark in Vancouver
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.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:56 pm
by Fear_The_Loach
Does he swim oddly? If so, he may have a swim-bladder diorder. Only a guess, though.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:59 pm
by Mark in Vancouver
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.
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:03 pm
by Laura Brighton
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