Clown loaches unwell

[PETEYPLECO]

My 3 Clown Loaches in my comunity tank are unwell = white edges on tail fin and dorsal fin, fins clamped and they ocasionaly scratch their sides on a rock?

Is this White Spot (no spots anywhere else apart from edges of fins), Skin Flukes or Epistylis?

Ive just gone out and bought Furan-2 for a dose tonight but I would like some feedback before I go in the deep end.

Temp 25, PH 7.1, tank is planted and I dont have a hospital tank (just a bucket).

[LYNDYLOO]

Hi there,

Really sorry to hear that your Clown Loaches aren't doing so well at the moment, could you possibly let us know your water parameters, when did you last do a water change, have you added anything to this tank lately, if there a no Whitespots then it posslby isn't Whitespot, if it was Whitespot it would look as tho your fishies have been sprinkled with salt, but then again you are saying they are going around scratching on things, maybe the Whitespot isn't evident yet, I would keep a very close eye on them, you say they have White edges around their fins, maybe this is the beginings of Fin Rot, Clown Loaches are really sensitive so just be very careful when treating with any sort of Medication.

Keep us posted as to how they ae doing.

Good Luck

Lynda

[PETEYPLECO]

I do weekly 25% water changes adding water ager and stress coat every time. I only have a PH kit unfortunatly so PH is 7.1, temp is 25. Tank is well established but I added some oyster shell to the external filter 2 weeks ago to raise PH from 6.6 to 7.0. I did this as the average prefered ph for all my species of fish turns out to be 7.0 and the bogwood I have for my pleco was naturally keeping the ph at 6.6.

Ph has slowly come up over the last 2 weeks so I dont think it was a sudden PH shock? I will check ph again to night and let you know.

These clown loaches do not look like they are covered in salt, it is just the very ends of their tailfin has white edges.

You say fin rot - will FURAN2 cure this? I will do half dose for the loaches.

If not what is the cure?

Thanks.

[Luke*]

Not sure sorry buddy, give it a shot. Try another bigger water change with water of the same parameters and temperature (you do warm the water you add right?) and try adding some peat to the water which will relax the fish.

[sharn]

you can use double doses of furan 2 on plecos/other armoured cats but im not sure if you can on loaches, theyre both scaleless so maybe something work looking into? good luck

[Laura]

Hey Petey,

I think I'd have to give my vote to Fin Rot.... it sounds as though it's in its early stages, which is always a good place to start when treating any problem .

This thread has some good advice:

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/fin-rot-vt11266.html

Hope this helps

Laura

[LYNDYLOO]

Yep I would say Melafix is the way to go.

Really would be a great idea to invest in a test kit at some stage, these are worth there weight in gold.

Hope you get it sorted.

Lynda

[PETEYPLECO]

Furan 2 treatment is now over, added carbon and removed the greeness from the meds. I've left this carbon in for a few days then tossed it away. I am now on the fith day of 20mls per day (in a 160ltr tank) of Melafix. All fish are fine bar one which was the most affected of the two, it still has small amount of whitish damage to its tailfin and seems a bit unhappy as its hiding a lot and its fins are clamped. I will continue the Melafix for another two days then do a water change and see how things go.

Feel free to comment?