Skinny loach

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Dave_2133
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Location: Staffordshire, England

Skinny loach

Post by Dave_2133 » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:20 am

Hi, i've a clown loach for about 8 months now and a brought him/her when ti was about 1" long and he/her hasn't grown or put on anyway weight since i've had it. If anything he/her has gone skinny and smaller, he/her is feed but just not growning or putting on weight.

Any help would be greatly welcome and how can i get it to grow?

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Emma Turner
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Post by Emma Turner » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:45 am

Hi Dave_2133,

I take it that you have other clowns in your tank to keep this one company? Have all the others grown/put on weight?
It could be that this particular loach has Chronic Wasting Syndrome (a.k.a. 'skinny disease') that causes the fish to loose weight despite eating well. You might want to do a 'search' of the forum to see if it compares with other cases. The treatment for this problem that is widely considered to be the most effective is Levamisole hydrochloride available from vetinary surgeons. Again a search should bring up dosage rates etc.
It is difficult to say if this is definitely the problem without seeing a photograph of the fish in question. Sometimes certain individuals within a shoal of clowns do not seem to grow (thought to be due to the Alpha loach releasing a type of hormone into the water to inhibit growth of the subordinates). But if that were the case, the small loach would appear plump, and not skinny.

Hope this helps,

Emma
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Dave_2133
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Location: Staffordshire, England

Post by Dave_2133 » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:49 am

Hi Emma, yes i have another two loach and they are about 4" now, they started off at 3" and they are growing well its just my little fella isn't. i search the forum and get back to you.

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Pickerel
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Post by Pickerel » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:58 am

Hi,
You give him food, ok, but does he eats ?

Have you tried living food ?
Frozen food ?
Home made food ?

I'm in the same trouble actualy with 2 young striatas who refuses anything except from living or frozen food (in fact, they only eats stuffs looking like "real natural food")

But they slowly take "small small" interest in industrial food.
Do they learn from their companions ?

I modestly think so.

Cordialement,
Dom

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Dave_2133
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Location: Staffordshire, England

Post by Dave_2133 » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:01 am

hi yes he's been eating flake, bloodworm crushed pellets and cucumber.

Emma i've done a search and the simptons are the same as some of the other post. i have a 1ft tank spare so i'm going to turn it into a recovery tank for him. just the lfs to see if they have any formulas to treat it. have you any suggestions?

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Emma Turner
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Post by Emma Turner » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:44 am

Hi Dave,

Unfortunately, nothing that can be bought off-the-shelf from a lfs over here seems to help, no matter what claims are made on the packaging. We have very strict guidelines in the UK regarding medications, and the only way you'll be able to get Levamisole hydrochloride is through a vet. The trade name they use for the liquid (far easier to use than the powder) is Levasole, which is usually used as a cattle wormer. If you explain your situation, they should be willing to order you some in.

Good luck,

Emma
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Gary Herring
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Post by Gary Herring » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:22 am

Dave,

If you can't get hold of Levimisole, I've got some you can have if you like. If you see the 'Skinny Gastro's' thread, its the same bottle that Graeme supplied me with. I'm highly unlikely to need it again and its got an expiry date of October, so I'd rather see it put to good use than go to waste. PM me if your interested.

Gary

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