Zebra Loach not looking well

[Southerrrngirrl]

Hey all,

I have two Zebra Loaches, have had them for at least 2 years now, possibly closer to 3. They've always been happy, friendly active loaches. Recently I've discovered that one of them is looking not so well. When viewed from behind and above it looks as though he has two white lumps on either side of his body just behind his eyes. I've tried several times to photograph him but the lumps aren't showing up in the photographs. So I've just got a picture of a loach from a website and circled approximately where the lumps appear. He was eating the other day but he looks kinda skinny too. I was wondering if the two white lumps might be his bones protruding from under the skin??

Last night, he did not look well. He was just sitting under a leaf, then got disturbed by another fish and swam away to the other end of the tank, and sat behind the driftwood. Then he started to roll onto his side, and the end of his body started to float upwards, and it looked like he was struggling to keep himself upright. Now he's gone in to hiding in the driftwood and I'm worried that he's gonna go die inside the wood and I won't be able to get him out.

Here's a picture showing the approximate location of the white lumps. (note this is not MY loach)

[Jaide]

For starters, set him up in his own tank, he clearly wants some peace and quiet while he's unwell. Ensure he has some hiding places in this set up too.

Without pics, it's hard to say - could be a parasite or fungus, you could try tonic and/or tonic salt and see how he responds.

[Southerrrngirrl]

I'll have another look at the pics I took. As for putting him in another tank, I only have one other tank which is currently home to a hundred billion snails. Which would be heaven for most loaches but.. at our house its also known as the Tank of Death. Any fish I have put in there, just die. Granted the only fish I put in there are ones that are looking sick or are already near death but still I am a bit reluctant to move him. Also another good reason not to move him is the fact that, despite looking sick, he can still move fast when he needs to and as soon as he sees that big net coming for him he's gone! Into one of the many crevices in the driftwood. :roll:

[Southerrrngirrl]

Here is my fish:

Again I've circled the white lumps, they are identical on each side. It doesn't look like fungus, its not fluffy, and it doesn't look like a growth. It really does look like bones protruding from under the skin.

He's still alive, but not very active. I think he's hungry as he came out of his hidey hole when dinner was served but didn't actually eat anything I don't think. He's looking considerably thinner than his friend.

Here's a picture of his friend (who is super active and pigging out on shrimp pellets) to compare:

Sadly, I think his days very much are numbered.