RochelleMay Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hey all, I need some urgent advice please. I have 6clown loaches in a 200L planted tank. and all of them have white spots and fluffy patches semi looks like bubbles on them. In the tank we also have 2 cories, 2 golden algae eaters, a big group of rummy noses and neons, and 1 rainbow shark. I orginally had 4 clown loaches and then about 2 weeks ago added in another 2 from LFS. What should I do? Its only happened to the clown loaches all other fish look fine at the moment. We are just transfering them to a hospital tank now. And only have a couple drops of melafix left so hopefully that doies for the evening and we can go to pet shop tomoro morning. I am posting this on behalf of my dad, so please help him out they are his favourite and the first 4 are a couple years old so getting pretty big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 pm'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochelleMay Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Just had a closer look and its on the cories and neons as well. Will do a gravel suck and 50% water change. Fingers crossed they last until the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplecatfish Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 The fluffy patches will be a fungus infection. I find that Furan2 is the best medication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochelleMay Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 so is it like white spot/ich? as it is on all our fishes and has only happened within the last possibly 12 hours that we have noticed? Or is it something completely different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Sounds like whitespot to me, plus a fungal infection. Put the temp up to 29-30, increase the aeration, treat with salt and/or a whitespot cure like "wunder tonic". If you're keeping loaches you should always keep it on hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochelleMay Posted August 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Could it be transfered through plants. As coming to think of it yes we brought 2 clown loaches from LFS about 3 weeks ago (just checked docket) but he also put oin Some Java fern that was brought off trade me about 10days ago. Which would it possibly be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markoshark Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Sounds like whitespot to me, plus a fungal infection. Put the temp up to 29-30, increase the aeration, treat with salt and/or a whitespot cure like "wunder tonic". If you're keeping loaches you should always keep it on hand! Yup, lots of temp, lots of aeration, and they will be fine. Could possibly be tiny air bubbles, but unlikey, and yes, whitespot can happen quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Could it be transfered through plants. As coming to think of it yes we brought 2 clown loaches from LFS about 3 weeks ago (just checked docket) but he also put oin Some Java fern that was brought off trade me about 10days ago. Which would it possibly be? It could have been living in the gills of the fish and something has stressed them enough to weaken their immune systems and give the whitespot a chance to attack. Whitespot is just part of keeping clowns, the best thing you can do is try to minimise the risk but keeping the water clean, warm and well aerated, and keep the fish happy in a good-sized group with plenty of hiding spots. Running a good UV steriliser can help, but isn't essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc360 Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Clown Loaches are very susceptible to ich, (white spot), it is more than likely the situation you are facing but this cannot be confirmed without photo graphs. Ich is a parasite, a small worm like creature that exists in the water and will burrow into the flesh of stressed out fish. this parasite can be fatal to fish especially to Clown Loaches as they have very soft skin, with none or hardly any scales to protect them. Most advice out there is to medicate with White spot cure. Be warned from research that ive done about this medication is that it is actually cancerogenic (cancer causing) in America items containing this ingredient has to have strict warnings on them. My advice is stay the hell away from it, it can kill you, is that something that you want to be putting it into your fish tank? imo. i have had ich on Clown Loaches and to begin with suffered fish losses. But from my understanding of the parasite i now have some effective strategies for dealing to this nasty little beast. 1. Raise the temperature of your tank to no less than 28 degrees no higher than 31, this is also the optimum temperature for your loaches, i would suggest if your tank is not at this temperature then it may be one of the causes of your fish becoming susceptible to the parasite. But most importantly raising the the temperature speeds up the life cycle of the parasite. 2. The white spot on your fish is a cyst, only a symptom of the parasite, this is where a parasite has burrowed in and is feeding off the host fish. Once this parasite has burrowed into the fish it will multiply and then leave the host fish to find other likely victims. Which is another reason why clown loaches are so susceptible. The parasite will fall to the gravel in your tank where Clowns spend most of their time. 3. Do 10% daily water changes, this is to focus purely on syphoning the parasite out of your substrate to reduce its numbers. As long as your fish are eating and active, they are in no real trouble, so what ever you do don't overreact. Nail the parasite, keep the fish happy, make sure that you are dong everything you can to provide the best possible set up for your Clowns (fast flowing clean water, 28 to 31 degrees not colder check that the tank temperature is not dropping during these clod winter nights). Don't use salt as Clowns don't like it. The white spots may last 4 maybe 5 days don't worry the parasite will only spend 12 hours in the fish, this can be shortened by following the steps outlined above. Clown Fish are cute but require very specific factors to keep them happy meet these requirements and no problem. If you neglect them, well you are going to have trouble. They are some of the best fresh water fish to keep and there are websites devoted to them, do your research it will reward you with beautiful happy fish. Remember the parasite is in your tank although you have removed the infected fish you have done nothing to battle with the parasite. Netting the fish may have had the negative impact of placing already sick fish under more stress. All the best with your Clowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 i haven't waded through the other posts but i got white spot on a fish from my lfs & got rid of it by dosing white spot cure as directed then did a 60% water change & repeated dose the next day. I did that for four days, white spot gone & never seen again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumzy50 Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 I have used wunder tonic and salt with no loses.I use to have problems with my clowns,but found as they got older they became more resilient againist bugs.I do a water change every three days as i tend to over feed.But i think that helps as i vaccum my gravel as will.I keep my temp at 28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochelleMay Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Thanks for all your comments and help. We have lost 3clown loaches so far. Put in the medication from LFS this morning and didnt expect miracles but they clowns seem to be getting worse. Also now the rainbow shark is rubbing against things and white spot is not visible but hes showing the signs of having it. So hopefully we combat it before it gets to him. fingers crossed this stuff starts to kick in. We are still doing daily gravel vacums and water change and temp is it 28.5 - 29 which we did last night so yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc360 Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 sorry to hear about the loss of your fishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougstark Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Maybe a photo or two would help to make sure we have disease correctly identified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RochelleMay Posted August 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 I have tried to take photos but you cant see anything on them as they just look blurry. We have some water medication which kills the parasite in the water and then also some special food which kills the parasite in the fish if they eat it, but because they are sick they are not eating so that hasnt helped yet. We only have 2 clown loaches left now and I think 1 is only just hanging in there. Dad coulnt bring himself to euthanise any as he had hoped this medication would work alot sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumzy50 Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Try some live food if you have it.I have six baby clown loaches in my sick tank that belong to mitzy they were covered in white spot.Ive had them ten days.Lost one in the begining.All spots are gone now but they were not eatting so fed out live food.Eating fine now.Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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