Dealing with new loaches and skinny disease.

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BichirAddict

BichirAddict

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 13, 2007
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So I've always had a issue with my clown loaches have skinny disease and just withering away on me.
I've tried Prazi Pro with no luck. Has anyone used NLS Hex Shield or Dewormer 3 sold by angelsplus.com
http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeMedW...=0.00&vch=0.00&tax=0.00&tot=10.75&unt=0.9&sd=

which contains levamisole which I've read is key for ridding internal parasites.
Any help would be appreciated try to get a school going.
 
BichirAddict said:
So I've always had a issue with my clown loaches have skinny disease and just withering away on me.
I've tried Prazi Pro with no luck. Has anyone used NLS Hex Shield or Dewormer 3 sold by angelsplus.com
http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeMedW...=0.00&vch=0.00&tax=0.00&tot=10.75&unt=0.9&sd=

which contains levamisole which I've read is key for ridding internal parasites.
Any help would be appreciated try to get a school going.
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Yes I had to order the Hex-Shield because I was having the same problem.
 
I was lucky to get my CL's on sale when 1 died returned it and got another until I thought they were ok. I started offering the Hex-Shield and was happy when they start feedind on the pellets, but unfortunately after about a month 1 showing signs of skinny disease but is active. The other CL's have doubled in size already.
 
Skinny disease is not a disease, being skinny is generally a symptom of an internal issue of one type or another. First thing one has to do is figure out what the exact issue is, as each medication is designed for specific issues. Praziquental is primarily designed for flukes, and tape worms/nematodes. Levamisole is designed to treat callamanus (sp?) and Hex-Sheild is designed to treat Spironucleus vortens aka Hexamita, as it contains Metronidazole, magnesium sulfite (Epsom salt), and a mega dose of garlic. So using one med or another may give different results, to different folks.
 
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Also, just an FYI ....... in my years of keeping various groups of clowns, generally in each group there is at least one runt. Sometimes the sizes and growth vary from loach to loach, which is thought by some to be a factor of the sex of the fish. Not sure, but if they are eating, and otherwise look healthy, and wouldn't worry much. If they start looking like they are getting pinched stomachs, head, etc then different story.
 
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RD. said:
Also, just an FYI ....... in my years of keeping various groups of clowns, generally in each group there is at least one runt. Sometimes the sizes and growth vary from loach to loach, which is thought by some to be a factor of the sex of the fish. Not sure, but if they are eating, and otherwise look healthy, and wouldn't worry much. If they start looking like they are getting pinched stomachs, head, etc then different story.
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Thanks @RD didn't think about it that way. The CL is still thriving since I've had the group so now I'm more relaxed about its condition. After 40 so years of having fish decided to raise a group of CL'S what made me pass them up all that time was all ways hearing how easily they would get stressed developing ich. From the time I have had them learned ich is not the problem its the internal issues that some are sold with like you stated.:)
 
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No prob, glad to help. Unfortunately the vast majority of the clown loaches in the trade are wild caught specimens, so unless they have already been treated by the exporter, or importer, or your LFS, they can all potentially have worms, and/or internal parasites/pathogens such as Spironucleus. No different than any other wild caught fish. IME CL's are very easy to keep, and one of my all time personal favorite species. Glad to hear that you finally took the leap! :)
 
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RD. said:
No prob, glad to help. Unfortunately the vast majority of the clown loaches in the trade are wild caught specimens, so unless they have already been treated by the exporter, or importer, or your LFS, they can all potentially have worms, and/or internal parasites/pathogens such as Spironucleus. No different than any other wild caught fish. IME CL's are very easy to keep, and one of my all time personal favorite species. Glad to hear that you finally took the leap! :)
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The CB group I tried some years back seemed to have a pretty weak constitution. I'm not trying to undermine your point but share an uncharacteristic experience with captive bred fish in this particular species.
 
Very rare to see captive bred clown loaches. Just curious as to how you knew they were captive bred? I have only seen them once over the years, bred in Florida perhaps a decade or so ago. Very small, and very sensitive. I have some pics buried somewhere from the LFS at the time. Most died before they were even sold. I have not seen any since, other than in very small numbers from a small time breeder in FL who used to sell on Aquabid.
 
RD. said:
Very rare to see captive bred clown loaches. Just curious as to how you knew they were captive bred? I have only seen them once over the years, bred in Florida perhaps a decade or so ago. Very small, and very sensitive. I have some pics buried somewhere from the LFS at the time. Most died before they were even sold. I have not seen any since, other than in very small numbers from a small time breeder in FL who used to sell on Aquabid.
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Imperial tropicals offered them a couple years ago, located in Florida. They sold them as captive bred, it seemed like they only had them for a limited time and I expect others had a similar experience to me. These were itty bitty too, not sure that it has much bearing on CB vs wc though.
 
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