Black Splotches

[Barb]

I have a 75 gallon tank, 2 clown loaches, 13 neons, 7 serpaes and an algae eater. My clown loaches have always been healthy, and they still appear to be healthy, active, growing, eating, etc. But, the bigger one started to develop black splotches a couple of weeks ago, and now I notcied the smaller one has a splotch on her fin. They just look like colorations - they are not raised. Has anyone ever seen this before? They still are behaving normally and look healthy.

[Graeme Robson]

Hi Barb. Welcome to Loaches Online.

Here's a previous discussion >> http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... =chefkeith

[Barb]

Thank you for the link! My clowns' blotches are bigger than the pictures on this link. Just as an idea, some of the splotches take up the whole width of the orange pigment. Maybe l/2 inch unperfect circle. You can still see that it is the orange stripe, but there is a balck (or maybe gray would be better) blotch there. I wish I knew how to take pictures and post them. To me, it looks like pigmentation, but I've never seen it before.

[Barb]

Oh- and THANK YOU for the Welcome!

[shari2]

Some loaches will have black blotches in the orange areas that are more noticable from time to time. If they are behaving normally, eating, etc. I wouldn't worry too much. i have a small one that has a blotch on one side that's about 1cm in diameter, not really round, not as dark as the regular black, and comes and goes depending on how he's feeling. Seems to show up more when there's a waterchange, or when he's fussing with his buddies or they are fussing with him.

If I can find a pic later, I'll post it...

[LoachOrgy]

i have one loach that is lighter in orange color than the others. its almost an orange white. but on the contrary, he also has darker pigmentation that sounds like what you are talking about. it almost shimmers black when light reflects off of it. while at the same time the orange color is much lighter than the other loach. I believe it is pigmentation that is just showing more after the loaches have been more comfortable in the tank. at first all of the loaches were a lighter greyed out color. now they have more vivid colors than before. they seem playful and more colorful than before as well. i wouldn't worry either. my loach with this pigmentation seems to be fine and playful as ever. it is noticeably different from a week ago as well.

[Barb]

Thank you very much. They really are acting as normal as ever, so I'm relieved that you all think it's probably nothing to worry about. I love my clown loaches. They are such cuties.

[LoachOrgy]

ok this is the best video i could get but it shows the loach with the black spot on it. the loach actually has a blending of darker black splotches. it looks like it ties into his colors. this is what i was talking about.

[Barb]

Yes, that looks like what I'm talking about. My loach has bigger spots, but very similar. It really does look like pigmentation, doesn't it. I just never saw it happen before. Thanks for sharing the video - it's great!

[Barb]

My algae eater hangs out with the clown loaches. He thinks he's a clown loach. So, I'm going to get another algae eater for him so he has some company. I read here that you should have 4 or 5 clown loaches. I have a 75 gallon tank with 11 neons (hard to count, could be 12), 6 or 7 serpaes, my two clowns and the algae eater. I actually had a 20 gallon to start with - didn't know that clowns needed so much room. I bought the 75 gallon for the clowns because I was afraid I couldn't handle anything bigger. This one actually turned out to be easier than the 20 gallon, so I'm going to start dropping hints to my husband about a bigger one. I should probably wait until then to add any more clowns, correct?

[LoachOrgy]

i am no pro. you would probably want to ask some of the more experienced people here. i read in the almanac that you shouldn't add loaches to a tank until it has been cycled for two months. what type of algae eater?

if its a common pleco or a gibby i wouldn't get two. they get huge! I i have given away two gibby plecos due to size and tank limitations.

the chinese algae eaters that i have are aggressive. i had two in my tank but separated them. they get along with all of the other fish except the other chinese algae eaters. many people suggested against the chinese aglae eaters. but it was the only algae eater the lfs had and everytime i buy an otto they die!
i just needed a smaller fish for cleaning algae. they actually grow quite fast and the one larger cae that i have is bigger than my loaches in 3 weeks time. the cae plays with the loaches. sometimes they tussle over food but it never lasts more than 10 seconds.

i saw a cae in a 100gallon tank at big als about the size of the one i have. it seemed less aggressive than the one i have. but it also had another cae tank mate. he was bulkier than mine but not as long. i may be getting rid of the cae if they get any larger. the colors are very vivid this is why i like the fish. i havn't had any problems with them yet. hopefully it will stay that way.

[Barb]

I have a Chinese algae eater. I bought two, but only the one lived.

[shari2]

here's a not so great shot of one of the black blotches on my little clown. He has several on his belly and I have another one (no pic tho) who has a blotch that comes and goes on his side.

[Barb]

Thanks! You guys take great pictures. I'm going to have to learn how to do that. It's nice to know that you have all seen this. I never saw it before and I was really worried. Thanks for all you help!

I know I probably can't put any mor clown loaches in until I get a bigger tank (I have 75 gallon), but can I add any more fish? About one dozen neons , 6 or 7 serpaes and an algae eater. I've been looking on this site, and there are so many cute loaches. Do I have room for any?

[LoachOrgy]

sheri, do you notice that blotches often apear and change? would this have anything to do with mood? i noticed today when all of the loaches were feeding together, that the darker loaches that greyed out actually had lighter pigmentation in the darkest areas. its almost like the darker black area on this one loaches fin was almost white colored after the loach greyed out. it was an interesting looking pattern.