Escobar

Hi, this is my first post on this forum.
I already have 11 neon tetra, 5 variegated guppies and 4 bronze cories. Yesterday, I bought 2 small clown loaches, about 1.5 inches long. I aclimatized them before putting them into the tank, just how they should be putting a little tank water into the bag at a time and then eventually releasing them into the tank. Straightaway they went and hid in a cave and I thought they are just getting used to their new home. Have got in from work today and one of them is lying on the floor of the tank, and I thought he was playing dead but he was dead. And the other one is still hiding in the cave and won't come out. Tried to temp with food but no response. Anybody with any ideas of what to do?

sirdarksol

Welcome to Fishlore!
They may have just been sick before you bought them.

I'd like to point out that clowns can get to be really big, too big for a 29g in the long run.

mathas

As blunt as it may sound, my advice is to take the surviving one back to the store. Unless, that is, you can quickly afford an adequate tank. Clown loaches need very large tanks, as they reach lengths upwards of 16" and are very active. Read the loaches.com profile here for good care information.

That said, if you're looking to keep it anyway, let's start with water parameters. What are your readings for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? What kind of test kit are you using when obtaining these results?

Loaches can be fairly sensitive to water quality, so that's the first area I'd look after ruling out sirdarksol's idea of the fish being sick before you got them.

sirdarksol

Sorry. Don't know where my head is right now. I should have asked the water parameter question myself.

Escobar

I took several weeks getting my parameters right before getting them. The testing kit I use is the Nutrafin Essential Mini Master Test Kit. Ammonia is 0. nitrites is zero and trace of nitrates. Personally I would think they were ill before I got them. I have just got in from work and I now have 4 dead neons!!! And the surviving clown loach has got white covering all over its dorsal fin which has almost disappeared and now has white patches on caudal fins.

Escobar

I waited several weeks, getting my parameters right and I use the Nutrafin Essential Mini Master Test Kit. Water parameters are Ammonia is 0, Nitrites are 0, Nitrates are very small trace and pH is between 6.8 and 7.3.
I have just got in from work and found 4 dead Neons!!
And the remaining Clown Loach skulking and its dorsal fin has almost disappeared and its stump is covered in what I can only describe as 'white stuff'. Also starting to get white spots on Caudal Fin. I don't think it will last the night. Also think one of the bronze corries is affected with whatever it is as before they were all actively foraging all the time, this one just floats about.

Escobar

I lost the remaining clown loach today, and the bronze corrie that I mentioned above and also one of my guppies died. Spoke to the guy at the fish store where I got the clown loaches. Really nice guy, Not the guy that I bought them off. Narrowed it down to possibly the pH being high. NOTE: tested for hardness of water and this was through the roof. Thought to mention this as this is not often though of if ever and can Actually possibly be the cause of death. Have now taken all of the remaining fish back to fiish store as did not want to lose any more fish and have now got 4 African Malawis. Am in process of aclimatising them and will hopefully see how they get on. Again, thanks for all those who replied.

Fishies-for-me

I have a ph of 8 and all of my tetras are doing fine. I have had them for 6+ months now. I have glowlights and neons. Guppies do not mind high ph. I also have had 6 albino corys for 6-7 months and they are breeding every now and then so I know they are doing good. I personaly think the clowns were sick and brought disease with them. I have learned my lesson after a few disasterous introductions of new ( sick ) fish. I now have a QT tank. It currently holds my newest babies. 6 pretty little harlequin raspboras.

Escobar

Thanks for the comments, very helpful. Personall, I agree with you. I also think the clowns were already sick and just messed up all my other fish. But I didn't like having the remaining fish getting sick aswell, found it quite distressing, as have small children at home who were asking awkward questions, if you know what I mean. Decided to keep these malawis for now and see what happens. . .watch this space . . . .
(thanks again for your replies, very helpful. Keep up the good work)

ScarfaceShaz

You did right dude...

Your conditions seem ideal for Malawi Cichlids.... They shall be more than happy in your hard & higher pH conditions...

p.s. The Key is... There is no Key !!!