waterlogged Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Ok so I have had 2 of these guys in my com. tank for most of this year. Yesterday I noticed one of them has 2 wounds either side of it's pectorial fins that look like something has tried to take a bite. Today I notice 2 wound of the same size and shape in the exact same location on the other side. They are in with 4 Angels 5 little Macmasterri 2 Blue rams 3 SAE 25 (ish) corys 4 bristlenoses 6 Black widows 10 penguin tetras I am almost completely sure it wasn't the angels as the hang out in different levels of the tank, the rams are really dosile and my little Apistos don't seem to be aggressive either. It's weird how uniform the wounds are, there isn't anything that could have fallen on it and doesn't look like it has squeezed it's self through anything. I was wondering if any one could shed some light on this? And also the best plan of action to take to help it make a recovery? doesn't seem any worse off apart from the wounds and it's Impossible to catch, either in a net or by camera. "Help me FNZAS forumers, Your my only hope" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3xtcy Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 hey Waterlogged, how big is your tank? might have to empty some water out and put them in a isolation net (they have to be catchable somehow! less water helps!) then you can hopefully get some shots and someone on here might be able to identify what could be going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artem Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Regardless of what type of injury I think adding some peat in a filter sock will help :thup: Or Ketapang/Almond/Oak leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 As silly as it sounds, it could be the other loach doing it, many of mine try to get each others fins during fights - Do they tussle at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 It's 445L aprox and too many hiding places to catch it with out tearing the tank apart. I have only ever seen friendly/schooling activity between the 2 other wise that would have been my first guess too. I assume that these loaches were a social species like most loachs, was I wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishplants Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hi there, Loaches, in general, are very sociable (although Pakistani Loaches can bicker), but they do have a stoush every so often. Even when they play those very strong jaws can cause some damage. One of my Striata Loaches recently lost most of it's dorsal fin, it healed up very quickly and is now growing back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 ok, but there is still the question on identical 2 wounds on either side? I'll put some stuff in one of the filters and see how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monk-fish Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I had 2 zodiac loaches at one point too, they got along fine sometimes but then the next minute they would be fighting. Seemed to fight for a long time circling each other and nipping fins etc. one of mine also had wounds on it ( red and round) they didnt seem bothered by the wounds, but i eventually got rid of tehm cause they were picking on the corys. should make sure there not picking on your corys, but i guess if you got enough of them it shouldnt be much of a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I haven't seen them pick on any one but the wounds would be about the same size as the loachs mouth. I don't want to get rid of them cuz I really like them. Would getting a 3rd maybe disperes the agression? corys seem fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 I remember reading on Seriously Fish that some people have reported aggressive behavior between Zodiac loaches, but I think they still recommend them to be kept in groups of four or more? Maybe they have overlapping territories... or just hit puberty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 Yeah, one of the other threads was talking about something similar http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8541 It could just be a coincidence that the wounds are matching, most of the fighting I've seen involves the fish going for the same area on the other fish each time ie pectoral fins, tips of the tails etc I'd try to get a few more, the skunk loaches I had did much better with three even than just two - one was definatley more dominant and the other was getting picked on a bit. As for the damage they can do, I've had a finger punctured enough to bleed slightly by a young striata loach, painful little guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 sweet so time to scrap the piggy bank lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 ok managed to sneak the camera behind the tank to his favourate spot and got a few ok pictures of the wounds on the LHS the camera makes it look a bit more red, it's more of a pink colour. they poor little guy doesn't seem to be bothered by them though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 Looks kinda like a raw burn eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 the colour yea but the wound itself looks like a bite. it's just hard to get close to have a good look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 yea the more I look at it the more it looks like bit marks. I really hope he is doing fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 he was sitting on top of a plant at the waters surface this morning which is weird as I have never seen them go up past half way. Managed to catch him and have him in a breeding net for now with and algea covered stone and some food in a decent current Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxjxa Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 I forget, is it loaches that react badly with salt? If not, salt the ____ out of him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Think it is catfish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Loaches can be sensitive to meds or excess salt, most species can also be quite aggressive although boisterous and feisty probably describe it better.. The zodiacs i had didnt get on very well and were always scrapping over territory, they also used to pick the eyes out of the swordtails. http://www.loaches.com/species-index/mesonoemacheilus-triangularis The loaches book says "While it will tolerate others of it's own species provided each has it's own territoriy, this species can also be kept alone." They seem to be one of the loaches that don't like to school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Ah =( might have to say goodby to him though. I would have thought a 445L would have been big enough for 2 =( so don't recommend getting a 3rd then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Well you'd usually add like 6-12 to spread out the aggression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 You could try it, but seeing that, I think you'd find it better to either go to one or many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlogged Posted August 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 yea that many and I think my corys may be beaten up. =( I'll just wait for him to heal up a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.