Loaches Online Forum

I've had enough fish troubles. I don't need anymore. But this morning I notice that the second largest clown loach seems to have some elimination issues. The fish's behavior doesn't seem out of the ordinary, and he's still eating. But I see some stiff fibrous stuff protruding from the anus, and it's sort of brownish. What is this? Is this bad? Will it go away on its own, or do I need to do something?

Please, if anyone knows I feel like I've seen this before, and it's a really bad thing.

Sorry to hear about this.

When I read your post, the first thing I thought of was mamachild's Albert. He had some problems a while back, but he's OK now.

Here is a link to the thread about him:

Albert

Hope all goes well.

Thanks for the response.... I might be just overreacting, since this weird stuff seems to have been passed through the fish's system. It's gone now. The vent area was not swollen or red, swimmining and eating are still good, and I didn't notice any fast breathing.

I think I'll get some internal parasite medication to keep on hand just in case.

Glad he's OK.

I might be just overreacting,

We've all done that.....someone once described it to me as aqua-paranoia.

Well, as the loachmom, I knew you'd understand the feeling My fish are my babies. Well, more like my teens, just about!

Could have been a kind of constipation issue.
Have you fed primarily meaty food lately? Anything with fat in it?
A few days of veggies might be a good idea...

Hi icewall42,

I agree with shari´s opinion. It´s probably a constipation issue. If your fish do not return to normal condition after a few days on veggies consider the use of Epson salt (MgSO4.7H2O). I had some issues like that and the Epson salt was of very help. It acts like a feces liberator and swimming bladder regulator. 2 days in a hospital tank using 20g (1 table spoon) of that salt for each 20 litres of water was the concentration I used.

Hope this help!

Marcos.

Icewall I had something similar happen to my loaches. It was a white milky substance. After that all hell broke loose in my tank. Watch very carefully just in case.

I tried blowing it up to get a better look........



Looks like something came out, then kind of spread out like a fan???? Fibrous appears to be a good description. I wonder if the fish ingested some plant matter that has gone through largely undigested?

Certainly some kind of laxative treatment might assist the fish in passing whatever it is. Presumably the thing is hung up by the anal sphincter muscles for some reason, yet made it through the fish this far ok. Possibly just needs a boost. The Epsom Salts sounds like a plan if nature doesn't bring it out soon.

I would like to see a full side-on pic if possible.

Martin.

I'm leaning towards the constipation theory, but I'll watch the tank closely per LoachOrgy's warning. Martin, the fibrous stuff actually did look like dead, undigested pieces of a plant. But since the stuff did come out, I'm not sure a picture would help at this point in time. The fish was moving all over the place begging, so getting a shot of him was hard.

I've been feeding them 1-2 cubes of frozen bloodworms everyday. Is it maybe this additional meat/fat that is causing the issue? I feed them flake food and sometimes algae discs, but I can try putting them on a zucchini or romaine lettuce diet starting tomorrow.

I'm hoping the loach passed this stuff out okay, but if I see it again... Epsom salt it is. In the Q-Tank, of course.

Thanks guys!

I'd vary the diet a bit more. bloodworms every day is very rich.
2x a week or so with veggies/fruit, flake, brine shrimp, sinking pellets etc. is a nice variety. Mine really went for cantaloupe.

What sorts of fruit, besides cantaloupe, can I use? I've tried shelled peas, zucchini, lettuce, and broccoli, but they only really attack the zucchini. they will nibble the lettuce, but it's not a favorable. I've never tried fruit.

I have flakes, algae discs, shrimp pellets, and frozen bloodworms currently. I should maybe throw in some pellets.

Also, I put freeze dried bloodworms in the tank because I have a (very beautiful!) Botia Helodes (thought it was a Hymenophysa) that is an extremely picky eater. He won't the flakes at all. He noses them but never eats them. He got really skinny once because I couldn't figure out why the fish had no appetite. I put in bloodworms... and bam. Scarfed them right up. So his diet is only bloodworms because he won't eat anything else. He's nice and fat now, with pretty green-grey stripes, a reddish dorsal and tail fin, and yellow anal fins. He's adorable! He begs with the big clown loaches now.

Icewall42 wrote:What sorts of fruit, besides cantaloupe, can I use?

watermelon seems to be appreciated...

Mine like cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon...tried a pluot the other day but the pleco seemed more interested than the clowns. They also enjoy an occasional orange slice, but the pulp makes a terrible mess.

Kate

Baked squash (like butternut) and Yams.
Baking keeps them drier, so they fall apart slower in the tank. Boiling will work, but the result is softer, mushier.