Clown loaches rapid breathing

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888fish

888fish

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2008
954
373
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CA
I've done lots of online research before asking for help here. I have a 170G with 24 clown loaches (1.5"-10"). I am guilty of over feeding! Change water only 30%/10 days due to the CA drought.

One 5" loach started breathing rapidly 3 weeks ago, now very thin due to not eating. Now two 2" loaches are having the same symptoms. They are lethargic, not eating, but swim around and scratch against surfaces.

I de-wormed with levamisole for a day following the instructions from loaches.com, then 1 week of prazi. This hasn't hurt the loaches, but they haven't gotten any better. The other 21 loaches are going STRONG! I'm going to practice feeding NLS thera A only, and feed sparingly each day to lessen the bioload.

What safe Meds can I use? Should I treat the whole tank?

Really need advice, not criticism please. Thx.


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I`m not a loach expert by any means but I have been in the hobby for many years. It sounds like you have figured out your problem already. Too much ammonia from too many fish or too much feeding stresses most fish. Those with skin instead of scales are most susceptible in those conditions, sometimes even getting ich as a result. I would increase the water changes to every three days if the breathing problem continues being very careful to get the temp right so you don`t stress then further. Keep us posted as to how things turn out.
 
Have you tried mixing metro in with there food then feeding them to help rid of parasites? Started soaking food with it to treat mine and damn you should see all the stringy white crap coming out... Also been using the Garlic guard.


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I'm thinking the loaches have some type of bacterial infection, which is leading to the rapid gill movement. Cuz the 3 won't eat. Any Meds recommended?


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Have you checked your water parameters? I have a feeling your nitrate is going to be high.
 
What kind of filtration are you running? ^+1 on checking water parameters. Back off on heavy feeding until you can maintain ideal water parameters. Once a day feeding with a fast day once a week. Also if water changes are once every 10 days, then I'd do a 90%. Just try to match water temp as close as possible.
 
i would do a big water change and soak some blood worms in some meds
and keep an eye on the water changes
 
I agree with the comments about the water quality. The lack of large waterchanges + heavy feeding seems like a recipe for deteriorating water quality which can lead to heavy breathing. I am using nitrate absorbing resin on my tank (with 17 cl's) and find it great for controlling nitrate levels between water changes. Maybe you could try some?
 
Once you figure out the issue, I would add some Pothos to your tank. Very handy filter for like 2.00 at Home Depot

GL
 
-Will do nitrate test
-Sump filtration, approx 900gph, LOTS of biomedia(eheim, seachem matrix, ceramic rings), 100 micron filter sock switched out every 6 days, purigen resin. Also a large sponge filter inside the tank as a backup to power outages.
-81F
-Tried the pothos method a year ago, prob reincorporate it this weekend.
- I think it's a bacterial infection brought on by stress due to my maintenance and feeding habits, not merely a nitrate issue as all the other fish are doing well. I did a 70% water change this past Sunday, and use lots of purigen resin. My sump is very clean and properly care for my biomedia. They haven't gotten better, going to lose these 3. At least, no others seem affected.

Many Thanks!


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