Very odd behavior

[dold]

I have two clown loaches in a 75 gallon tank. My smaller thinner and much lighter loach is starting to hang, head down vertically in the tank. My other loach has started to do the same behavior as well? Is this strang or just regular behavior? The are about 3 inches in length.

[Emma Turner]

Hi dold, and welcome to Loaches Online.

That is definitely not normal clown loach behaviour. Please could you tell us a bit more about the aquarium, most importantly the current water parameters (ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, pH). Also what is the water temperature, how often do you carry out water changes/how much do you change each time, and how long was the tank set up for before adding the clowns? Do you have a decent amount of water movement coming from the filter and any additional powerheads? Whilst waiting for water test results, drop the water level in the tank by an inch or so, so that the water returning from the filter splashes down onto the water's surface (this will help aerate the water a bit more).

If you could also add your location into your profile, it will help the LOL members to recommend any products you may need that are available in your country.

Emma

[dold]

Thanks for the welcome Emma. Water parameters are all fine and tank has been up for 1 year. Water changes are weekly with a powerhead 600 g per hour and use an ehiem 2026 350 gallons per hour. As I was waiting I started reading some of the other post. The fish in question has the thinning disease. He is thin and can see the ridge along his body. He seems to eat with other fish. Other loach is very fulled in body. I am thinking I should remove him from the tank to try and treat. I live in Calgary Canada.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Hi Dold. Welcome to LOL.

I would get that loach into a hospital tank asap. If you can set up an unlit 10g tank with a small filter and heater and tank water, you'll be set. If it is CWS or "skinny disease" you should probably medicate the smaller tank.

When you say that the water parameters are fine, what do you mean, exactly? Are there other fish in this tank aside from the loaches? How recently did you acquire these loaches? It's so hard to diagnose other people's fish, so we like to get the maximum information to deal with. If you can run down the actual tank parameters it would be helpful.

If the sick clown is eating normally but showing thinness, it may be an intestinal parasite rather than CWS. Either way, a treatment of Levamisole hydrochloride might fix things for you.

[dold]

I have had the loaches for about 7 months. The one loach has always been thin. I would say he has not changed very much in the 7 months. If it was the skinny disease would I see a bigger or dramatic difference in this time? The actual parameters I do not know, but water was tested at LFS and all parameters were very good. Tank is a community tank mostly tetras.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Yes, CWS usually shows up in newly added fish. Some parasites may linger for a while before making themselves obvious, but again, after 7 months, it seems odd.

Has anything at all changed about the tank? New fish? New decor? A change to water change schedule... Anything new in their food?

I know you folks have had some up and down weather in Calgary... Has the city added anything to the water, or have there been water issues?

Symptoms like this normally show up in the first couple of weeks. Please wait for others to weigh in with their opinions...