Getting Clown Loaches Too Small

[doogie]

Hi all, I am really into clown loaches but it seems I can't keep them. Every time I get a group, they get really skinny one at a time and die. This happens one at a time say over the period of a month. I have 1 out of a group of 6 that survived and is now about 3", plump and it would seem happy. I have another group of 5, that is down to 3 over the coarse of a month, slowly they have gone from healthy active fish to an increasingly skinny fish that just wants to sleep, and the eventually dies. So am I getting the too small, why are the suddenly, individually getting skinny then expiring. Please I need help or perhaps should I not get anymore clown loaches?

Doug

[Diztrbd1]

might want to list your water parameters, what your feeding and such to help with any diagnosis

[BelieveInBlue]

My first thought is some kind of internal parasite, which would explain the rapid loss of weight, but it could also just be due to a loss of appetite as a result of something else. As mentioned above, the parameters of the tank, as well as a brief summary of your daily/weekly/monthly maintenance routines may give us a hint as to what is wrong.

[doogie]

Sorry for the delay. Tank size 20 G, 83 degree's, PH-7.0, NH3-0, NO2-0, NO3-weak 5. I started with a 25% WC with the appropriate amount of "Prime" once a week, after 2 weeks I increased this to 50%. Nutrafin Max flake food with an occasional pinch of NLS Growth (which they don't like, so I quit). 1 Clown is really sick and skinny and now the second clown is not eating, but still a regular body shape but is slowing down (seems a sign of things to come), and the third is just a pig. HTH

Doug

[Shell Dweller]

I would not do 50% w/c. 25% should be sufficient. Try feeding something more appropriate than flakes for clown loaches, blood worms perhaps. JMO. Good luck.

[hlee72ca]

I would not do 50% w/c. 25% should be sufficient. Try feeding something more appropriate than flakes for clown loaches, blood worms perhaps. JMO. Good luck.

Good advice.

[time4mercy]

IME, clown loaches need something meatier than flakes, as well as something that sinks closer to their preferred area (i.e., the bottom).

Mine did well on sinking carnivore/bottom feeder pellets with occasional bloodworms and ramshorns (their super fave!).

I definitely think changing the food will help.

[doogie]

Well thanks to all that made comment, I fed them some frozen bloodworms and almost instantly they were slurped up. So I am off to the pet store to get more frozen bloodworms. How about frozen glassworms or is there any other suggestion. Its looking better! THANKS!

Doug

[doogie]

Forgot to ask has anyone tried the garlic supplement that the LFS carries with any luck?

Doug

[djamm]

Feed them a variety. Try feeding spirilina flakes, sinking pallet catfish food, boiled peas, boiled broccoli, cucumber, bloodworms and beef heart.

Cheers