Please someone help....new to loaches

[LUVaLOACH]

One of my new dojo's has labored breathing and his eyes are white (cloudy). I really don't think he is gonna make it but I started erymothicin (sp) this morning, it is all I had that I knew would not harm them as they have no scales correct?

Basically, I am just wondering what you guys have used to medicate these guys as I am not only new to fish but to loaches as well. I know they don't like Melafix so I stayed away from that. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Oh, I might add water paramaters are as near to perfect as you can get.

Thank you,
Kris

[angelfish83]

That's like using aspirin to treat cancer. If the drug is not for that, you don't use it.

Sorry you're having difficulty with your loach.

"Water as close to perfect as possible" doesn't tell us anything.

What is your temperature? your pH? TDS? kH? How often do you change your water? How long have you had the fish? When did this problem start? How many of these fish do you have? How big is the tank? What other fish do you have? Do you remember doing anything that may have caused this, and so forth.

[sully]

you picked a pretty good basic antibiotic to use. sort of tame--be careful to watch your ammonia/nitrite levels--it can kill the bio filter depending upon the strength.

Cloudly eyes can often be cleaned up with nothing more than scrupulous attention to water quality. Lot of good gravel vacs and water changes to keep the bacterial load down will help. At the same time it will help keep parasitic load down if that is the issue with the rapid breathing.

I would do daily, large volume pwc's just prior to meds being added.

I have typically used maracyn/maracyn II in combination as an antibiotic regime. A shotgun approach with relatively benign meds.

lot of mucous in the gills? any little red threads hanging from theedge of the gills? part of it is definitely bacterial--just might have parasites in there though. what does his slime coat look like; healthy--or grayed out?

hope that helped.

[chris1932]

What condition is the rest of the fish in? fins? Appetite?

[LUVaLOACH]

What condition is the rest of the fish in? fins? Appetite?

All other fish doing great so far. I am baffled. I guess I will just start with the marcyn products tomorrow. Do you think the others will be infected also. Probably be best to run a round of meds huh?

Thanks,
Kris

[LUVaLOACH]

That's like using aspirin to treat cancer. If the drug is not for that, you don't use it.

Sorry you're having difficulty with your loach.

"Water as close to perfect as possible" doesn't tell us anything.

What is your temperature? your pH? TDS? kH? How often do you change your water? How long have you had the fish? When did this problem start? How many of these fish do you have? How big is the tank? What other fish do you have? Do you remember doing anything that may have caused this, and so forth.

Thanks,

I just used the EM cuz it said it would treat "cloudy eye" which is what it seems like he has but who knows. I just got him yesterday along with another one which is just fine. Maybe it's just stress or he just came sick from the store.

Temp in my tank is normally 78, but I bumped it up to 80. PH is 7.0, no amonia, nitrates and nitrites norm. I change my water at least once a week.

This is a 20 gal with 2 small angels, 1 peppermint pleco, 2 mollies, 3 (for now) dojo's and 2 naked frogs (at least that is what I call them, I am not sure of the actual name of them).

Can't think of anything I could have done to cause it. Would like to save him and deffinanatly don't want to loose any of the others.

TY<
Kris

[LUVaLOACH]

you picked a pretty good basic antibiotic to use. sort of tame--be careful to watch your ammonia/nitrite levels--it can kill the bio filter depending upon the strength.

Cloudly eyes can often be cleaned up with nothing more than scrupulous attention to water quality. Lot of good gravel vacs and water changes to keep the bacterial load down will help. At the same time it will help keep parasitic load down if that is the issue with the rapid breathing.

I would do daily, large volume pwc's just prior to meds being added.

I have typically used maracyn/maracyn II in combination as an antibiotic regime. A shotgun approach with relatively benign meds.

lot of mucous in the gills? any little red threads hanging from theedge of the gills? part of it is definitely bacterial--just might have parasites in there though. what does his slime coat look like; healthy--or grayed out?

hope that helped.

Thanks for your response sully. I guess from the feedback I have gotten I will go with the maracyn tomorrow if he makes it. I will deffinantly take your advice on the water changes.

No mucus on gills, nothing but the rapid breathing and the cloudy eyes. I also just found out that I have a horrible mix of fish in this tank, which is no surprise due to my 6 year old picking them. Thankfully, my 55 gal is almost cycled and ready for the dojo family.

TY,
Kris

[chris1932]

What kind of condition is the rest of the effected Weathered loach in? I should have made myself more clear

[LUVaLOACH]

What kind of condition is the rest of the effected Weathered loach in? I should have made myself more clear

Rest of loaches in great shape, this one is dying, what is your advise on how to put him out of his misery? I have heard put them in the freezer? Also, I just found a red lesion on his side, dang...I don't wanna have an outbreak in my tank!

Thanks,
Kris

[Mark in Vancouver]

There is no good way to deal with fish euthanasia.

If the loach is clearly about to die, and you need to do this for yourself, please catch the fish gently and place it in a plastic container with only an inch or two of tank water - enough to cover the fish. Plunge the container in the freezer or surround it with ice.

Though fish have lots of nerves, and may feel pain in the same way we do, they also react to cold like us. Slowed respiration followed by a fairly quick shut down of other systems. The suddenness of the chill and the relative lack of oxygen makes the fish die within minutes.

All fish keepers have to deal with some deaths. It's horrible when you feel compelled to expedite the death of a life of any kind. Sorry for that.

Other opinions will no doubt follow.

[chris1932]

Whoow thats a loaded question. It has been discused on here in the past and went over like a baloon full of turd. If you read the Axelrods index or Guide to freshwater fish dissease it says to take surgical shears and in a swift motion cut through the base of the brain stem behind the gill covers. Fish suffer when you freeze them or drop them in cold water.

I would hang in there and try to fix it. I have had weathereds that have almost boil looking lesions pull through after a strong course of meds.

[LUVaLOACH]

There is no good way to deal with fish euthanasia.

If the loach is clearly about to die, and you need to do this for yourself, please catch the fish gently and place it in a plastic container with only an inch or two of tank water - enough to cover the fish. Plunge the container in the freezer or surround it with ice.

Though fish have lots of nerves, and may feel pain in the same way we do, they also react to cold like us. Slowed respiration followed by a fairly quick shut down of other systems. The suddenness of the chill and the relative lack of oxygen makes the fish die within minutes.

All fish keepers have to deal with some deaths. It's horrible when you feel compelled to expedite the death of a life of any kind. Sorry for that.

Other opinions will no doubt follow.

I just did that about 5 minutes ago, I was not sure if it is the best way to go but he was on his way out. He is the freezer as we speak. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me, I don't feel so bad for doing what I did now. Little sad, but hey, better than being nibbled on all night. I did find a red lesion on his side when I took him out and this does concern me. If you get a chance let me know if you think I should go ahead and medicate the entire tank or just watch them.

Thanks,
Kris

[LUVaLOACH]

Whoow thats a loaded question. It has been discused on here in the past and went over like a baloon full of turd. If you read the Axelrods index or Guide to freshwater fish dissease it says to take surgical shears and in a swift motion cut through the base of the brain stem behind the gill covers. Fish suffer when you freeze them or drop them in cold water.

I would hang in there and try to fix it. I have had weathereds that have almost boil looking lesions pull through after a strong course of meds.

I wish I could have hung in there with him but he was just lying on the bottom of the tank getting nipped and he was really half dead. no movement at all. I would never have been able to do it otherwise, I tried...now I have to concentrate on keeping the others well.

TY,
KRIS

[Martin Thoene]

Hi Kris.

You have two major problems with your choice of fish. Please read our Dojo profile:

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

You will see that your tank is too small and your temperature is too high.
Not suitable for this species at all. You are going to find that the Angels will outgrow the tank as well.

Martin.

[LUVaLOACH]

Hi Kris and welcome to LOL.

You have two major problems with your choice of fish. Please read our Dojo profile:

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

You will see that your tank is too small and your temperature is too high.
Not suitable for this species at all. You are going to find that the Angels will outgrow the tank as well.

Martin.

Thanks Martin,

I have a 55 gal cyclying for the loaches now, I will read the link you sent and I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to more loaches in the future, thank you for your input.

Kris