Accordian Loach??

[MoonPye]

"Gaining weight" -- quite unlikely, unless you also treat intensively, it seems to be possible to at least hold the disease with good antibiotics. Gaining weight is actually the best indicator that an animal is ok, the other is an increase in activity/appetite...not just eating.

I'd quarantine until you see positive signs...

Thank you Mike. He definitely is acting much better since coming home. The first few days here he didn't come out of hiding at all, and didn't eat I think for the first two days. Now he's eating and swimming about, I have even seen him come up to the surface like the bigger ones do.

And actually I have several dojos in quarantine at the moment, I got them all days apart from each other, they are all just waiting until my hubby's done with the bigger tank. It should only be a few weeks away. He has already started stripping the old sealant, and is ordering new glass for the front tomorrow (it was scratched badly by the previous owner) and then we just have to sand / stain the stand and after the sealant sets, we'll be all set to start cycling it. I'm very excited about it. I think the loaches will love it. Keep your fingers crossed for me that they're all healthy.

I would have my 55 gal set up already, but we're waiting until after our baby is born and see how long it takes for things to settle before delving into that project (that's the one we have to get out of storage).. then the dojos will most likely be in that tank for the remainder of their lives. I am planning on sand substrate for that one also.

[mikev]

You are very welcome & keeping my fingers crossed.

If I may suggest: do not quarantine together loaches that came from different places, even different tanks in the same store. The chances of catching something nasty are very high with wild caught fish, and it is better to lose just one group than all at once. I violated this rule a few times in the past and lost a couple of qtanks this way. If you see something at the store you really like, set up another small qtank.... (I have four right now)

[MoonPye]

One of my first loaches, a cherry fin sand loach, had a similar kink. I assumed it was a broken spine, which also seemed to fit because the back half of it never really moved, sort of just trailed behind the front half of the fish. But that was before I knew much about fish care and he passed away a few months later.

Awww Tristan I'm sorry that one didn't make it.. but I'm SURE he had a wonderful home for his last months, much better than a pet store!!!

[MoonPye]

You are very welcome & keeping my fingers crossed.

If I may suggest: do not quarantine together loaches that came from different places, even different tanks in the same store. The chances of catching something nasty are very high with wild caught fish, and it is better to lose just one group than all at once. I violated this rule a few times in the past and lost a couple of qtanks this way. If you see something at the store you really like, set up another small qtank.... (I have four right now)

Ya know, I did think about this and wondered.. I did put them all together already unfortunately, but in the future I will heed your advice. I do have a 10 gallon just sitting there not being used for anything that I could set up.. the problem is, my husband will complain about all the tanks I have going! LOL

So I guess I better just not get any more fish at all until my new tank is done and my qtank is empty again!

[mikev]

Yeah, I know the situation. I have only four since setting up another (and I have a spare) will require talking to my wife...and I really could have used another tank.

With loaches it is only a question of time before you get something really unpleasant...(I had about ten encounters in the last two years). The few animals you have exposed, the better. Since I never have too much qtank space, I try not to buy 1-2 fishes, this ties up a tank for too long....so unless I really want some particular fish, I try to look around and find a place that has 4-6 healthy in one tank and get them at once.

So I guess I better just not get any more fish at all until my new tank is done and my qtank is empty again!

Or set up another 10g. Adding new fish to qtank also resets the clock on it, you have to count 1 or 2 months since you added the last fish, so it is a really bad idea.

But you can also quarantine right in the new large tank. This is actually more convenient for dither fish, where you don't need a very long quarantine. I tend to start new tanks with danios, rainbows, barbs....generally safe fish...and of course, after the cycle is established, and let them run for a month. This further matures the tank and makes it better for loaches.

[MoonPye]

But you can also quarantine right in the new large tank. This is actually more convenient for dither fish, where you don't need a very long quarantine. I tend to start new tanks with danios, rainbows, barbs....generally safe fish...and of course, after the cycle is established, and let them run for a month. This further matures the tank and makes it better for loaches.

I hate to sound like an idiot, but what exactly are "dither" fish? Are they the ones people use to cycle tanks?

That is a good idea to buy several at once instead of one or two at a time.. I will definitely remember that, it does make more sense after all. it's just so hard to find dojos around here, I grabbed them as I saw them, and some of the smaller pet stores only had one or two at all. The nearest Petco to me is the only store that gets them in any kind of quantity.. I've seen them have at least 6 or 8 at a time.. but they sell as quickly as they come in. And the Petco is 30 miles from my house, so it's not easy to get to!! I do live in the middle of nowhere.. nothing is convenient here. LOL

Well once I get the cycle going in the new tank, these loaches will go in and stay in (if all are healthy, of course) and nothing else will be added unless it's been in quarantine, because I do not want my precious dojos dying on me.

Speaking of.. I read that danios do well with lower temps.. would they be good tankmates for the dojos in the big tank? I have a bunch of danios in a different tank right now, and was thinking if they all do well together, they would add some movement to the upper parts of the tank. I'd like to put them all together.. I think it would make for a nice and interesting tank.

[mikev]

Dither fish == nice normal fish that lives in upper levels of the tank. In theory they are relaxing loaches by their very presence...

Danios would be one choice, and a pretty good one: they like colder temp (in fact will live longer in colder water) and they like current too.
Essentially all Danios would work, also many Rasboras, Rainbows, and some Barbs (Rosy, Odessa). White clouds would work also, but they are a bit too small. With Dojo's, small goldfish is also an option.

Generally, one wants slightly larger dither for larger loaches, I'd probably go for a 2"-3" species, at least 8 of them (you have a 55g, right?).

What kind of Danios do you have?

If you want to use them for your new tank, it would be a good idea to let them have the tank for a couple of weeks when your cycle has been established.

[MoonPye]

I got two more pics.. hopefully you all can see what I mean by that he's "bendy".

http://www.moonpye.net/BendyLoach.jpg

http://www.moonpye.net/BendyLoach2.jpg

And as he's gaining weight, it's actually looking quite better. These pictures are from this afternoon.. last week he literally looked like an accordian.. not so much anymore. Still eating well, and acting really good. I have hope.

[MoonPye]

Dither fish == nice normal fish that lives in upper levels of the tank. In theory they are relaxing loaches by their very presence...


Generally, one wants slightly larger dither for larger loaches, I'd probably go for a 2"-3" species, at least 8 of them (you have a 55g, right?).

What kind of Danios do you have?

If you want to use them for your new tank, it would be a good idea to let them have the tank for a couple of weeks when your cycle has been established.

The 55 gallon is coming out of storage in a few months after new baby is born (I'm due in 2 months). Right now I have to settle for the 32 gallon hex (but it's the long style, not the tall kind of tank).

I have long finned danios, a dozen of them, in a couple of different colors ~ leopard, zebra, and gold. I was told these would grow to 2 to 3 inches. I find them very interesting fish to watch, so animated and energetic. They are really good eaters, too! They are currently not in the same tank as the loaches, but I think they will all be tankmates soon. ~after all the quarantining is over~

[mikev]

Best of luck with the baby and the loaches!

32g may be a bit tight for 12 Danios (they eat like pigs and pollute) and a few dojos.... You probably will end up doing more wc's than usual. But it may look quite nice...

No Glo-Danios? They actually look quite nice, but my wife finds them too unnatural to consider.

[MoonPye]

Best of luck with the baby and the loaches!

32g may be a bit tight for 12 Danios (they eat like pigs and pollute) and a few dojos.... You probably will end up doing more wc's than usual. But it may look quite nice...

No Glo-Danios? They actually look quite nice, but my wife finds them too unnatural to consider.

Thank you!

I was wondering if I had enough room in the 32 for all of them.. but I can always just move half.. is 6 enough, do you think? I can leave the others in the tank they're in now. They're all quite small right now. (I do realize they do grow)

No Glo's. I didn't see any the day I was out buying these guys.. and I had been to at least 3 different stores that day.

But I think right now we're pretty set on the number of fish we have to maintain.. LOL.. I hate to even think about the temptation of new fish once my tank that the loaches are in right now is empty.. my husband is going to kill me if I buy a bunch more fish.. LOL ... and as it is, I almost came home with a cute little newt today.. good thing I changed my mind, because I'd be setting up that 10 gallon right now instead of catching up on email.

[MoonPye]

My little bendy loach is looking better day by day, believe it or not.. now he's got a brand new hump to get over.. UGH... I just discovered an ich outbreak in the tank!!! I HATE ICH.

What a pain in the ass. Now I am worried about ALL the tankmates instead of just Bendy.

Did I mention I HATE ich???

[loachmom]

I hate ich, too!!!

Hope all goes well.

[MoonPye]

Thanks LoachMom. I appreciate all the good thoughts coming my way to deal with it. I hope I don't lose anyone.

I raised the temp on the tank since last night (yes, slowly), so hoping that will help.. I don't want to raise too high to damage the dojos.. how high is too high for them? I have it at about 78 now.

Yes I do understand the relationship between temperatures and the life cycle of the ich, in case anyone is going to ask. I did ALOT of reading on it. I just want to treat gently so as not to hurt any of my loachies.

[MoonPye]

My biggest and one of my favorite dojos died this morning. It was probably one of the most horrible deaths I've ever seen a fish go thru. He looked and acted absolutely FINE two days ago.. last night was kind of floating around the filter intake, but I was hoping it was just that kooky loach behavior they have, I knew rain was on our way here, thought maybe he was reacting to the barometric changes.

Not so lucky.. this morning he was very listless and had red splotches on his sides. His head & gills were very swollen. And he was still alive! I of course did not know how long he's been like this, all night or what, I last saw him around 8pm last night and he wasn't like this. I got him out of the tank and did the clove thing. My daughter was crying. I couldn't even wait till she left for school, because I just knew he was suffering.

Now of course I worry about all the other loaches, as I don't know what happened to him, is it contagious?? The other guys in there look normal besides the ich (which I am currently treating for). I will be keeping a very close eye on them this weekend.

I am actually still within the return guidelines to get a replacement loach, but not sure I want to do that, because don't want to start the quarantine period all over again (I'm already almost 2 weeks into it) plus I don't want to risk putting a healthy fish in with a mysterious illness (or with ich for that matter), if there is one in the tank.. I would definitely have to put a new fish in another tank and I don't have one running and cycled. maybe I will just bury this guy and not worry about getting a replacement.

I'm so sad!!!