Help! My Clown Loaches have ICH!

[beckyrwh]

That's good advice Gary. I wish I knew two weeks ago what I know now. I just hope someone can learn from my experience. I'm trying hard to correct the situation, but it seems like no matter what I try someone says that I'm doing the exact wrong thing.

[poeticpyro]

well give yourself a pat on the back at least and don't beat yourself up too hard, at least you sought out help and are trying to fix the problem. most people would have just been like "eh" or my favorite, "i'll just get new ones." it seems like you really love them and your loaches do love you back.

[beckyrwh]

Thanks Poet. That helps.

[NancyD]

Beckyrwh, I'm very sorry but not surprised.You'll probably lose the other loaches. Dead fish will cause ammonia etc problems so check at least a couple times a day. I guess at this point you should quit the meds, leave the temp up & continue big water changes. The rasboras may be able to get through this so don't give up. Try the zeolite(often mixed in with charcoal I think) or a resin like Chemi-pure (I've used it before but not in an emergency,just don't believe the no water changes part)
After you get things in resolved there are some things to consider. Clown loaches can NOT live in a 55g for more than a couple years at most. They grow to 12 inches or more & live for more than 20 years. If you decide on loaches consider 4 inch stiatas (zebras), 5 inch kubotais (angelicus or burmese border) or my favs 2 inch sidthimunkis (chain or dwarf). Beware common names though, look at the species pages here. You'll need to wait for your tank to "mature" for loaches, when the good bacteria will be well established on gravel, plants etc, about 6 months. But think about what you'd like your tank to look like in a years' time. If your dream fish are angels then loaches MAY be too active or nippy & tiger barbs would be out. Rasboras in a big school are a good choice: colorful, not nippy & too fast & big for most fish to eat. Try to keep bigger groups of social fish, at least 5 of 1 species of loach, 8-10 rasboras. They are happier, healthier & more fun to watch than 2 of several kinds.
Good luck.
Nancy

[beckyrwh]

Thanks for the advice Nancy. I was thinking about adding a few more rasboras someday as well as some rainbow fish. Maybe I should get cory cats instead of loaches. The clown loaches were fun to watch while they were healthy, but you're right, I don't know what I'd do if they were 12"!

[Gary Herring]

That's good advice Gary. I wish I knew two weeks ago what I know now. I just hope someone can learn from my experience.

Don't worry we've all been there at some stage. Well I certainly have anyway! Like someone already said, at least you have made the effort to get help and do everything you possibly can to save your fish. Don't let this put you off - its all about experience and learning from your mistakes and pretty soon it'll all come together and when it does you can help others not to make the same mistakes that you have. To be honest i find it shocking that people are not told the basics about the cycling process when they buy aquariums and fish. Most shop staff don't seem to even know the first thing about the nitrogen cycle, let alone be able to advise their customers on it. Surely they have more of a responsibility?

I'm trying hard to correct the situation, but it seems like no matter what I try someone says that I'm doing the exact wrong thing.

Don't give up!!! Like I said before, you need to get the tank cycled first and foremost. You'll never beat ich when you've got high ammonia and nitrite levels. Heres a link to an excellant article about cycling your tank and the nitrogen cycle in general:

http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/ne ... 9&forum=14

Keep up those water changes (no more than 40 - 50% a day though!!) and good luck!!!!!

Gary

[beckyrwh]

Thanks Gary. That was an excellent article. I still don't know what exactly caused my ammonia spike. I could have been just the NTS, too many fish, dead fish, Maracide, too much vacuuming, etc. I guess all I can do now is keep changing the water and hope for the best.

[Gary Herring]

Oh yeah, one other thing: Even when your tank is fully cycled, don't use Maracyn!!! It will kill your filter bacteria. There are plenty of effective ich treatments on the market that are harmless to filter bacteria, and in any case, Maracyn is an antibiotic so it probably wont help against ich, which is a parasitic infection.