Loaches Online Forum

Hi,

I recently received a rescue project in the shape of 7 P. cheni. They all look skinny; they are too skinny to get proper suction on surfaces. Half of them have serious trouble turning over after ending up on their backs. My guess is that because of their sunken bellies, the center of gravity is higher than normal and that causes the inability to turn over . . . coupled with a lack of energy it only makes things worse.

At this point, all I can do is fresh water and good food.

Any advice would be welcome, especially if you have seen this before. I don't suspect disease . . . but who knows.

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan

About all you can do at this time is make sure that they have clean, well oxygenated water and provide them with some good quality algae wafers, shrimp pellets and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Even with that, it doesn't sound too encouraging to me.
Have you seen them eat at all or at least forage for food?
Is there coloration patchy? If so they may have a bacteria infection that is treatable with anitiboitics. A combination of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 may work.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi,

I have not seen them do anything. The guy I got them from just brought them to me. He knew I was interested in the species, but that's all he could get from his sources.

The coloration is fine. The males have their dorsal with the red trimming . . . . I don't see anything particularly wrong other than weight and sunken bellies.

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan