Loaches Online Forum

Hello all,

I hope you can help me.

I've been keeping Clown Loaches for about 6 months now and noticed this afternoon one has been injured.
The 2" Clown seems to have a splinter (to him, probably a spear) which seems irritated on the left side of it's body. I don't know where he got it but I'm afraid at the angle it will only get deeper if it bushes past too many things. He seems fairly normal and still keeps with the others.
Is there treatment or should I try and remove it myself?
If so, how should I handle the clown as I don't want to do any more damage.



Hope someone can help

Thank you

Lee

i would firstly identify where he got the splinter from and remove that source then look at removing/treating the loach

I know, I'm still scratching my head on this one.
This is a well established tank and haven't got anything (what I thought) that could injure any of my fish. This is my first injured in a lot of years.

Ho dear, poor little fella.
I have no idea of anything scientific but maybe drain some tankwater into a bucket and soak a towel. get set up on the kitchen draining board, tweezers at the ready. Get the little fella on the towel, cover his eyes and have a dig, hopefully pulling out the splinter in one pull. The towel over its eyes should calm him, thats as I understand it.
Maybe Melafix will help prevent infection?
Maybe hospital tank for a while with tip top condition water.
Or you could leave him to see how he goes but if the area is getting infected, like your photo suggests, it will probably only end in tears.

Best of luck, hope he pulls through

Thank you Colin!

I actually done what you said and he was good as gold.
I thought I'd scared him to death as he was still throughout the procedure.
Had to work pretty much in the dark until settled.
It looks like a bit of dead plant matter was the cause. I thought it was maybe a worm of some sort but on closer inspection I ruled it out.



I'm hoping the wound isn't too bad as I have no meds or QT at the moment so he is now unfortunately back in the tank.

Doesn't seem too bothered and swimming perfectly.

I will just have to keep an eye on him for now.

Thank you again.

Lee


Here hoping this doesn't change.

To the loach: Get well soon.

To Dr. Lembo: Great job! Do you do house calls?

keep us informed on any developments m8 and the best of luck to the little clown

Clove oil? How do you use it for this sort of thing?
I suppose this is only necessary for larger, stronger or squirmier fish.

sommit that may help but im not sure with the loach but when i used to do alot of fresh water fishing we used to medicate the fish after being caught ie where the hook was and any blisters and such that the fish had, we used to treat with some medication and then i was told to use bonjela as in the gear you use for your mouth, now please dont try this untill a more experienced loach person liek emma replies but it may well help the healing of ya little fella i know we was told by the enviroment agencies that bonjela was better then the med we had been instructed to use hence we changed it on our lakes

rave

Rave as long as the wound is clean you can use vaseline thinly smeared over the hole this will stop any fungus/bacteria from infiltrating the wound.

mick

didnt know about vaseline due to its a petroleum jelly but dead handy to know, the reason we used bonjela was its apparently an antiseptic

Thank you. I would never thought about using those type oitments.

So here's the update

8 hours after I'd removed the splinter with a large hole on his side.
Swimming by himself staying away from the others.




Then this morning he seems to have made a dramitic recovery with only a bit of soreness.

Wow- fantastic!
Thanks for posting this- I don't think I would've even tried to do such a thing before seeing this post! It is good to know that such a thing is even possible! You must've done everything just right! Congrats

I know it's been a while but I would like to add that he is still alive and well(healed) after all we put each other through.



Lee

that's the best kind of update. beautiful picture of a beautiful clown! well done