Do Weather Loaches Shed Their Skins???

[soul-hugger]

I have just set up a new 55Gallon tank, and all that is in it, besides a few decorations and plants, are three Longfin Blushing White Tetras, and two 5-6" long Weather Loaches I transferred yesterday (after a lot of "fun" trying to catch them) from my 20. This tank is very clean, and there are no snails. Today I was looking at one of my loaches, and resting near him was what looked like a clear piece of skin. I know most loaches don't have scales like other fish, and it got me to wondering if they shed their skin a bit as they grow. I have seen thee skin-like things before, either floating on the bottom or clinging to the plants, but always assumed they had something to do with the snails. I have always removed them from the tank without giving them much thought, until today. If they are not pieces of skin, what else could they be? I am learning something new every day

[Pywakyt]

I have had one of my dojo loaches for 5 years and never seen that but who knows maybe I have and did not relize what it was. Also not to alarm you but my grandmother had a pleco once and she did not test the water and due to something in the water she touched him once and one whole side of his skin just came off...the pleco died shortly after that as well as the other fish.

[soul-hugger]

Wow.., That's very strange.., I have never heard of that happening before. I know you can touch your fish, and even pet them sometimes, as long as your hands are wet. I think that is because most fish have a protective mucuous covering over their bodies, and you can disrupt it if your hands are dry; something like if you touch a butterflies' wings. But a whole side of skin coming off is something else! I am not at all sure what could have caused that.

Years ago, not many of us did test the water, so there would have been no way of knowing what could be wrong aside from what we could see with the naked eye or sense in other ways. I had an aquarium when I was a kid, and I don't remember there being so many water testing products, or any other products for that matter, though we did use dechlorinators. I think fishkeeping has become a lot more technical over the years, as people have begun to figure out how to replicate their fishes' natural environments more closely. It's a lot more involved than just keeping a fish in a bowl, that's for sure. When I bought an aquarium three months ago, I had no idea just how involved it could be! But I'm glad I'm finding out, because I think that is part of what makes it so interesting and fun.

I do test the water, and the ammonia and nitrates are almost 0. The 20 gallon has finished its cycling and is now entering into being an etablished aquarium. Th 55 is still new, and will probably cycle as well, but I am now familiar with that process and know what to expect. As far as the "skin" goes, I'm not sure, but if I think about it, they have been present since I got my loaches, and both seem to be active and in good health. One has always been larger than the other, but in two months or so, the smaller is about the size the larger was when I got them, and the larger is even bigger. (I am going to have to name them, since they are so easy to tell apart.) How big are your loaches after having them for 5 years? I'm wondering how old these are. I know they're definitely not babies!

I guess as long as they are healthy I probably shouldn't worry.
Thank=you!

[Diana]

Many Loaches (other fish, too) produce extra slime coat when they are stressed (such as by chasing and catching them). This can look like clear sheets, or a gel-like mass, or be somewhat more stringy.
Remove it from the tank.

When Clown Loaches have been kept with other fish (for example in a shipping bag) and they are stressed this excess slime coat generated under the stressful situation seems to be toxic to other fish. I do not know about other Loaches (toxic or not) or what kind of concentration is needed (shipping bag vs large tank), but better safe than sorry.

[soul-hugger]

Hello...

Thank-you, Diana.., that seems to make sense. Both loaches were quite stressed when I caught them, but especially one of them. The first one I caught quite easily, and then once they were separated, I was determined to reunite them as soon as possible. Unfortunately the second was not so easy. I tried for several hours at intervals before I was successful in catching him. I wanted to make the capture as stress-free as possible, but unfortunately with fish, there is no real way of letting them know you are only trying to help.

Since the transfer, both loaches are active and feeding well. In fact, their colouration looks better in the new tank, perhaps because of the lower temperature. (I have been slowly reducing it from their previous temp.) They went exploring right away and seemed to appreciate the extra space. Today I also brought some driftwood and decorations from the other tank, and added some plants. As strange as this sounds, they seemed happy to see the familiar driftwood. I got a smaller piece for the 20, and proportionally, it looks much better, making more space in that tank as well.

I will definitely remove those clear skins as soon as I see them.

[Diana]

It is good they are settling in. I do not find it odd they recognized the wood. Loaches seem to be quite smart about things that matter to them, and a nice hiding place like that driftwood ranks high on their list.

[Pywakyt]

How big are your loaches after having them for 5 years?

My 5 year old is about 4 inches or so including tail. Mind you I read and was told when I bought him that they do not grow in captivity. He was about 2-3 inches when I got him. So he has in fact grown some.