Poorly Clown Loach

[Bodieann]

Hi there,
I got my Loach about 4 weeks ago, and basically he's been great, full of life, really friendly toward the other fish in the tank.
Yesterday morning the baby Plec I've just got died (Fin Rot)

Since this the Clown Loach has been effected by it..... But I'm not sure if its stress of something else.

He's not swimming around as much as he normally would, he's definately not 'dancing'.
It seemed like yesterday he was 'lilting' to one side, and even lieing on his side at times (yet I've read that Clown Loaches do lie on there side at times)

I thought of quarantining him, to be on the safe side, but he went 'berserk' so much so that I put him back (he definately was more stressed in that situation)

Today he seemes a little better, swimming around a little more, though he's bot really leaving the bottom of the tank too much (normally he's all over the place) He seems to be lilting a little still but he's definately swimming bum down......

So I need all your expert advice....

Is he stressed from the plec dying, or is he constipated.
I should say that I feed him on treats of blood worm n lavae that I get from the aquarium, I put a lttle block in the tank about twice a week, the rest of the time I just feed him and the other the normal flaked stuff with plec wafers too.

I have one other bottom feeder left in my tank now.

I've left the light off in my tank today, just so its hopefully a little less stressful for him.

Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give me..... I'm a new Clown Loach owner and want to get it right...

Oh and one final thing, I know that these fish like there own kind and I'm going to get another one, just once all the upset in the tank settles

Thanks again

[shari2]

Hi Bodieann and welcome to LOL.

Can you give more details about the tank setup?
Size, water parameters, what else is in the tank, how long has it been set up?
Why did the plec die of finrot?

What kind of maintenance do you do? What filtration?

Yes, clowns lie on their sides. But they are also very social fish and do get quite large. They need excellent water quality, too and high levels of O2.

Tell us more about your setup and we may be able to help you better.

[Bodieann]

Hiya, and thanks for replying,

He's a lot better this afternoon sfter I put some treatment in for swimbladder. He's much more active and he's even 'dancing' a little.

My tank is 180 litres with an internal filter and good oxygenation system. Also lots of hiding places.... I do a 20-25% water change every week to 10 days. The tank itself is only about 2 months old but the fish are quite established, I've had them about a year now.

The other fish I have in there are one silver shark,a siamese fighting fish, tetra's, and a long nosed elephant fish.....

I think I'll give it a week or two before I add anything again, just to make sure that the water is def not contaminated....
I'm looking to add another Plec (sail fin) and another Clown Loach as I now know they like their own kind for company.
Is it right though that its best to get one around the same size as him (he's currently only about 4 inches long)

Thanks again

[distrbd]

Every time I see that picture next to Shari2 ,I think of an angel.
She is always the first to come to your help with solid advice.

[shari2]

...it must be the white hair...

Is it right though that its best to get one around the same size as him (he's currently only about 4 inches long)

It would be ok to get one a bit smaller. Clowns seem to get along ok with all sizes. I added two very small clowns to a tank with one at 7" and another about twice their size. They get along fine. The larger one mostly ignores the other little ones, but they still try to hang out with him. I'd recommend odd numbers tho, so that one doesn't pic exclusively on the other.

Your tank is about 45g, and the fish you have in there already are a somewhat ecclectic mix. The clowns will outgrow it in a year or two. As for adding a pleco, try to choose one that will stay small or in short order you will have a maintenance nightmare. Standard rubber lipped plecos are sold small, but they get LARGE fast and become poop machines. Bristlenose plecs stay small (about 5") and do a good job on algae without decimating plants. Make sure you don't add one until you do have some algae in the tank, however. Stocking a tank too fast will overwhelm the biofiltration and could cause a mini-cycle.

[Bodieann]

Thanks for emailing back Shari2

You've been tons of help.
Yes an ecclectic mix is what I was after - lol
My Clown seems to almost back to is usual self, swimming around a lot more and dancing too.