big stomach Clown Loach

[miklo]

I have two loaches, amongst other fish in a community tank. Tank established for ~4 yrs, with no loss since day 1. Oe of the loaches has been "Blowing" up for this last month or so. No changes in behavior, eating good, etc. I have added a little salt and rasied the temp in the tank by 1 deg (up to 80.5 now). Any ideas as to what this could be? I have ruled out constipation as he/she is eating well. Could it be a internal parasite as I have ead they read this is a common problem with Loaches? Any ides welcome. Great site by the way.

[miklo]

The subject should read as above. The Loaches stomach is becoming very large. It looks like the outer skin has actually broken/stretched a little around the top stomach are of the loach.

[Xenos]

I'm not familiar with loach-specific diseases, but it sounds like this fish is suffering from dropsy, which in itself is only a symptom, sometimes of an internal bacterial infection. I've heard good things about using Methelyn Blue as a dip/bath, but I'd start doing some heavy googling on the subject. Try starting by looking for pictures of fish with dropsy, and see if that looks like what your fish has. Hope this helps!

[Vancmann]

Miklo, do you have a picture of the fish? Can you get one on the site?