1ADAM12

Is it typical behavior for clown loaches to scratch themselves on the rocks and other decor in the aquarium? As far as I can see they do not have iche or a fungus. Otherwise they are very happy fish. I have 3 of them.

I did just treat my tank for fungus earlier this week because of my Silver Dollar. He now is fine and clear.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Adam

susitna-flower

Can you tell us more about your tank? What are the water test results? What size is your tank, and the other fish?

Loaches are sensitive to water conditions, and prone to ick. They are also easily hurt with medications since they are scaleless. You may want to turn your tank temperature up to 84 for 2 weeks, just to be sure...The temperatures over 82 kill ick, and if you do the recommended water changes every other day to bring the oxygen levels up with the higher temperatures, it will improve the overall tank conditions.
Good Luck

Butterfly

No they don't usually do this.

Follow her directions and your Clowns will be in good shape in no time.
Carol

1ADAM12

I have a 45 gallon talk and when the loaches get bigger I am going to upgrade to a bigger tank. Saving money now! For testing all I have is the Ph test strips and everything seems to be in the normal range. Currently the tank is at 84 and I have been doing a 25% water change weekly(this is what I do weather the tank is sick or not) but since I treated it for fungus I have been doing a 25% water change for the last three days.

I do not see any signs of iche or anything else grrowing on the fish. They are playing and acting normally. I just noticed that my rainbow shark is doing the same thing but no signs of any growth.

I am confused!

Butterfly

A good test kit is the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals freshwater liquid kit. The strips are frequently unreliable.
what all do you have in the tank and how many of each ?
carol

susitna-flower

I would still keep up the temperature treatment for 2 weeks even if you don't see anything.....use carbon to clear any medication out, then discard the carbon filter material.

As carol stated, you need to be testing your water with an API Master test kit.....you need to know where your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests are....this is the only way you will know if you are doing enough to keep your water healthy.

1ADAM12

OK all I just went out and bought a test kit. Its API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It tests for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels. These are not test strips but they are the test tube and eye drop test kits.

So here are my levels:

pH- 7.5

Ammonia- 0ppm

Nitrite- 0ppm

Nitrate- 40ppm

I know Nitrate levels are bad but why are they up if everything else is 0? What should I do next.

Thanks for your help!

Adam

Butterfly

Those readings indicate your tank is cycled. You always want to have Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0. Nitrates over twenty can cause your fish to be a bit uncomfortable.
Over feeding, overcrowding, in frequent water changes, infrequent gravel vacuums, decaying plant leaves are a few of the reasons Nitrates tend to rise.
I don't know if any of these apply, they are just some ideas to check out.
Your tap water could also have Nitrates in it. Test the water from your tap to see. If not then a good round of tank maintenance will help the situation. Clowns are big eaters and a big Nitrate contributor
Carol

1ADAM12

Thanks for the speedy reply! I do a 25% water change each week and vacuum the gravel. I do not have any live plants so know problem there. I will do another water change today and then test the water tomorrow and see what I come up with. I hope the tank has cycled.....its been up now for over 3 years hehehehehehe

Thanks a lot!

Adam

susitna-flower

I'm glad you got the test results, now you will be able to adjust your water changes accordingly.

It also does tell you that your tank is cycled.....all the ammonia and nitrite are being converted to nitrate....that's a GOOD THING!

Now you just have to deal with the nitrate, and this can take several 50% water changes....one every day till the nitrate drops. Test the water 24 hours after a change, and if it is still up, do another 50% change....vacuuming 1/2 your tank each time.

If it persists with high nitrate....you need to reevaluate the number of fish in your tank, or tank size....it MAY be time for that upgrade you talked about. I kept a 55 gallon tank overstocked for awhile, and had to do 50% changes almost every day to keep it down to 20 on the nitrates.....You get sick of this very fast, and know it is time to upgrade....

Butterfly

Welcome Live plants would actually be a plus in your tank as they use Nitrates to grow. Sometimes even in tanks that have been up for awhile something happens to disrupt your beneficial bacteria and it will have a mini-cycle, glad this isn't one of those times.
You might want to up your water changes to 50% a week or 25% 2x a week, this may be the only way to keep the Nitrates in limits.
Carol

1ADAM12

Thank you all for the great answers!!!!! I had live plants (Amazon Swords) in my tank and my Clowns ate them all up.

Butterfly

Wow! really? My clowns never ate any of my plants but they would uproot them hunting for snails They even dug up plant fertilizer tabs once. I think they thought I was burying surprises for them LOL I guess I was lucky.
carol