My ClownLoach's Body Is Swollen!! Help!

[Red_Arokh]

Hello,
I first noticed something was up when I didnt see my one clown loach for 4 or 5 days. I thought it was due to him being replaced as top loach in their group. But finally I thought he might be stuck because they were getting a little big for their castle. So I made him/encouraged him to come out and to my surprise his whole body was swollen. Not just his belly everywere but his fins are swollen.
Here are some pictures. (To see a bigger version click the link below the picture.)



http://www.freewebs.com/red_arokh/spotsick1.JPG


http://www.freewebs.com/red_arokh/spotsick2.JPG


http://www.freewebs.com/red_arokh/spotsick3.JPG



http://www.freewebs.com/red_arokh/spotsick4.JPG


As far as I know he hasnt been out of that castle...... now that I have freed him and taken both castles out of the thank he seems to be out with the others like he used to before he dissapeared. I haven't seen him interested in food, he seems a little dazed but that could be from being stuck in there for so long... Or do to the fact that there isnt as many hiding holes to dart into. (Im working on new fernishings that are the proper size.) I feel so bad I should have looked sooner but I hate to bother them just because I dont see them for a few days. I know it bothers them when I gently try to shake them out. They cling for dear life inside thinkin Im gonna hurt them, the poor dears.

Anyway I have no idea what is up with him.... I did have my pH take a dive a short while ago, but I have slowly over the time of about 1-3 days brought the pH back up to normal. All other parameters in the tank are normal(no ammonia or nitrite, safe amounts of nitrate and temp 80degrees)
His skin does look like he had been rubbing it on the inside of the castle, so maybe he really was stuck......I would have broken it to get him out if I had to I love my clown loaches that much.
Should I dose the tank with Melafix to help him heal? Also one of my other clown loaches has a nasty bite on his nose....probly from when the new leader took over. It is no longer swollen or red and is healing well but would it help if I added Melafix? Help him heal faster you think? Both clownloaches are in the same tank and the directions say on the bottle that it is safe to use on scaleless and sensitive fish.
Please give me some imput I have no idea whats up.......
Red_Arokh

[mistergreen]

Are you sure it's a he?
could it be a gravid female?

his/her color looks pretty good for being 'sick'.
just a shot in the dark.

[Red_Arokh]

Hi Green,
I have no idea if he is a girl or boy.....I just think of him as one because of his personality. What does gravid mean? Also I thought that they didnt become sexually mature untill they were alot bigger...I've had the 2 for 3 years one for 2 years and the smallest is 6months or so. The one that is swollen is one of the 3 year ones. Ive had him a long time. Please give me some info on what gravid is and maybe some sources I could look it up in please?
Thanks
Red_Arokh

[mistergreen]

gravid is full of eggs.

It's only a guess.
http://www.loaches.com/articles/clown-l ... ated-items

[Emma Turner]

That body shape doesn't look normal for a fish of that sort of size. When I first saw your pics, it reminded me of one of my larger specimens which is pretty overweight as it is always first to the food. But I'm a bit concerned about your fish, especially as you say it hides a lot and is never the first to the food.

It could be a number of things including some sort of internal blockage, a tumour, or dropsy.

Is it displaying any other symptoms at all, apart from the 'bloated' appearance?

What are your exact current water parameters? Anything new added to the tank recently?

Melafix would do nothing to help an internal problem, so I wouldn't necessarily go adding that to the tank. Your fish with the bite wound will heal quickly if you maintain tip-top water quality.

Good luck,

Emma

[Red_Arokh]

Hello Emma,
He doesnt really hide except at night when they all go to sleep. I did see him eat today a little. He nibbled some at some shrimp pellets I put into the tank. Like I said before his whole body is swollen even the base of his dorsal fin is swollen. If you look closely in the picture above when he is facing forward you can see it. His eyes are also a little swollen but that doesnt seem to affect him any.

I tested my water and to my surprise they are off a little. I am working on slowly bringing the pH up. I just did a waterchange not 3 days ago...Should I do another?

pH=6.8
ammo=0
nitrite=0
nitrate=95
temp=82

He does have some grey marks on his sides but I think that is because of when he was stuck on the inside of the castle he rubbed some of the coloring on the inside onto his skin.
Hes not breathing heavily and he doesnt seem to be uncomfortable in any way, unless I accidentally scare him by walkin by to fast. I am still working on getting more hiding holes for them. But there is plenty of room to hide in the ones I currently have if they share which they usually do. Except for Miss Diva of course.......shes such a bossy loach.
Anyways please let me know what you think.
Red_Arokh

[Emma Turner]

The fact that the eyes are a little swollen out (in addition to the body bloating) could point towards dropsy - but it's very difficult to say for sure.

Don't worry about changing your pH, that is fine for clown loaches, but you do need to get those nitrates down.

Emma

[mistergreen]

wowza. 95 nitrate is really high.
High nitrate is dangerous and affect their behavior.. They stress out and hide a lot. Bring it down under 20ppm.

Do more water changes & vacuum the gravel.

how big is this tank btw?
I have a feeling it's small for clowns.