Clown Loach Problem

[Astex]

One of my 5 CLs has a problem. The top part of him looks sunken in (on a cat I would say you could see his backbone), but the rest of him looks like a regular health loach.

This morning, I noticed his fins have some white streaks on them and there is one internal white dot at the juncture of body and tail fin.

It is not ich (been there, done that a lot) and it also seems to only be affecting one fish.

I've had this fish for at least 6 years, and have had no trouble with it until now.

Any idea of what it could be and or what to start treating it with?

Should I isolate in qt. if I can catch it relatively painlessly (he's in a 55g fully planted w/ hidey holes)

Thanks,
Bridget

[Mzungu]

If you could post a picture of his fins, that would be helpful. Can you explain a little bit more about what you mean by an "internal white dot?"

You've had him for 6 years; was he young when you got him?

[Astex]

I'll try to get a picture, but that might be challenging.

I got them all when they were young (2" or so) and have had them ever since.

[Astex]

Finally got some pictures. Single picture is the sick loach, and the two is for a comparison with one of my other loaches.

You can't really see the sunken in part of the upper (top) of the body, but it is there as well.

Any ideas?

[imagirlgeek]

The top part of him looks sunken in (on a cat I would say you could see his backbone), but the rest of him looks like a regular health loach.

A photo would definitely help for this, if you could. So, does it seem like his body is becoming deformed, or more like he's lost weight in this isolated part of his back? Or neither...I'm having a hard time visualizing this.

This morning, I noticed his fins have some white streaks on them and there is one internal white dot at the juncture of body and tail fin.

Does it look more like loss of color, or like something on the skin making the streaks and spots? And if it's on the skin, can you tell if it's fuzzy?

Any idea of what it could be and or what to start treating it with?

Off the top of my head, and based on the description, it doesn't make me think of anything specific. Hopefully we'll be able to fine tune the details and get a photo to help figure out what we're dealing with, and then go from there.

Should I isolate in qt. if I can catch it relatively painlessly (he's in a 55g fully planted w/ hidey holes)

It wouldn't hurt and might make it easier for you to inspect him.

EDIT: Sorry, I was typing while you were posting pics.....disregard my requests for photos. )

[imagirlgeek]

Thanks for getting the pics.

What's his behavior like? Is he darting around? Rubbing on stuff? Does it look like he's breathing hard? (I know clowns always look like they are breathing fast, at least to me, but does it seem labored compared to the other clowns?) And is it possible the white areas are excess mucus? I can see he's darker than the other clown, so I have no doubt he's not feeling good. Loaches are just so sensitive, so I hate to recommend a medication and have it be the wrong thing and just stress the fish out more.

[Astex]

He's behaving fairly normally except that he's out and about more than usual. No scratching against decorations, seems to eat when i feed them. Biggest difference is that he's not really hanging with the rest of the loaches, and instead is by himself.

Getting thinner all over, but most noticably along his topline.

I'm torn as to whether the stress of putting him in qt. is more damaging than medicating the entire tank and all the other fish, which seem normal.

He lives with: rummy nose tetras (8), 2 SAE, 1 abn, 6 peppered cories, 3 flag fish, and the other 4 loaches. Filtration is 1 XP4, 1 2213, and 1 HOT magnum. All water parameters are normal (zero) and temp is between 78 and 80.

Yes I know the tank is too small and am working on up sizing but need to build/obtain a stand for the 100g I have sitting in the garage.

[imagirlgeek]

Assuming it's a bacterial infection (internal), you'll want to treat with an antibiotic. It's better if you can get him to eat it. You can do this by mixing the antibiotic powder with a little vegetable oil (enough to make a paste), then mix that with the pellet food you are feeding, let it dry, then offer to the fish. Hopefully, the fish will eat it and get the meds to work from the inside.

[Astex]

What type of antibiotic could be fed internally?

[imagirlgeek]

Any of them can. It won't hurt them. We just add them to the water column because it's easier, and you can do that instead of feeding it if you want. If you can get them to ingest it, it just works better. But it's definitely not the easier option.

Here's the thing...tetracycline is a great antibiotic...BUT it's been overused so much that some strains of bacteria are resistance to it. It's just one of those things we, as hobbyists, have to deal with. And the problem is, we don't know what strain of bacteria our fish are infected with. Erythromycin is another good one. I've never used Furan-2, but there are people on HFB who swear by it. And there is also Maracyn and Maracyn-2, which some use together to kick both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. I've had good luck with Maracyn-2.