Clown Loach?

Question

My clown loach seems a bit down... (no jokes please - lol)
normally he dives about, 'dancing' as I've seen it called sometimes. But today he's been quite still, not even mooching about the bottom very much. Recently I bought a plec, and noticed when I got it home that it had fin rot, I tried unsuccessfully to treat it and he died... Do you think my Clown Loach could be poorly (he looks fine) or could he be just stressed...
Thanks

Thanks everyone for your advice...
I should say that I treated the Plec in quarantine, then put him back later. (as advised by the aquarium)

I have 180 litre tank and was thinking of getting another Clown Loach for company for him, but only once things settled down....

Okay I've put him in an isolation tank as he's now intermittantly lying/lilting on his side......
Though I read that Clown Loaches do this...
Getting really confused as to what to do for the best now :o/

Answer 1

Well your doing all you can as your keeping a close eye on him, But I'm sure i read some where that Clown loaches are nocturnal, Well if not they sure sleep a lot lol as mine sleeps on his side most of the day in his rock, then of a evening he comes out to play with my red tailed black shark, they are good buddies lol. I have only one and he seems more then happy with that, they can be quite Territorial so carefully if you do buy more. Just see how he gets on the next few days or week. Unless he's hiding and not eating and showing no signs of illness then he sounds fine to me. They are sweet little fishes clown loaches as they eat your snails it's brilliant i hate snails! they are cute. good luck hope yours is in good health and bounces back real soon. xx =)

Answer 2

Yes you can, I am right now. I have zebra, clown, yoyo, and yellow finned loaches together. Remember loaches like to be in groups of 4-5 though. I don't but everyone acts fine so if not you should be fine. If you do get a clown loach be sure to get ready to treat the tank for ich. Clown loaches get stressed easily.

Answer 3

stress could be a problem with the fish, with fin rot entering the tank and then a fish dying from the disease this puts a big amount of stress on the other fish in the tank. If there are no other signs with the other fish in your tank then the disease wouldn't be much of a think to worry about. Although it would be at the back of my mind that fin rot is still in my tank.

the only other things that it could be is the water, have you recently done a water change or cleaned the filter too much as there is important bacteria in the filter sponges that help with the water chemistry.

when cleaning the tank out u should do:
25% every week
50% every month
75% every year
100% every 3 years
if you do too much at once you can course an unbalanced effect in the tank causing fish to be stressed and upset because the water chemistry of the tank has changed.

water testing is a great way to tell if u have an unbalanced tank and should be tested 1 week after clean out or any time before a clean out

Answer 4

I have had the same loach for 13years now(it's my little bairn and I will cry when it eventually snuffs it)and over the years it has shown all of the behaviour that you mention. As long as it's eating i'm sure that it will get back to it's normal comical self.I wouldn't definately get a friend as I tried that and they didn't get along that well-the new one eventually died, but that could be a one off. You could also get another bottom feeder such as a corydora or sucking loach to keep it company. I'm sure it will be fine.
Good luck-they are great fish to keep.I have never seen 1 1foot clown though. That person gave an odd answer.

Answer 5

He could be stressed by your treatment of the pleco's fin rot. Another thing as a side not is that clown loaches are community fish. They prefer to be in groups. I would suggest (if your tank is large enough) to get 1 or 2 more. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Well, loaches are social animals, so he may have liked the company of another bottom fish - even if it was a different species. Depending on your clown's size and the number and size of any other fish in the tank, you might try another clown - but as adults, you'll be pushing the limit on the size tank you've got.

Answer 7

Sometimes,you know,the outward manifestation of a disease is just the visible signs of some internal trouble. I wont pretend to be an expert on fish but i have kept them for a number of years and have found,with the possible exeption of "white spot",that it is always better to isolate poorly one(s) from the healthy before giving any medication.Sometimes the cure can kill.

Answer 8

Since he looks fine I would think stress. Anytime you suspect stress you must next think, "Stressed by what?" If you treated recently for fin rot then you treated with an antibiotic that may have disrupted your cycle in the tank by killing some of the beneficial bacterial. Check the water for ammonia and nitrites and change water if needed. If you can't check the water, change 25% anyway. It won't hurt no matter what, but will help if it's an ammonia problem.

MM

Answer 9

Check the label on the medication you used for the plec, clown loaches are sensitive to medications and this could have affected it.also it is likely to have upset the balance in your tank so I would check on that too.

Answer 10

He could not have enough room to grow, and he is stressed out...

They grow to 1 foot you know...