I’ll Clown Loach (photo)

still swimming around, feeding... but keeps acting dead in this same place.. red cheeks, an this sore looking blister type thing near the fin

Other fish, mollies, platies, cat fish, clown and shrimps are thriving and levels are great.. temp is a tad high due to weather

 

I know Clown Loaches can act dead, but the behaviour and appearance of this tiny one suggest it is weak.

They are often imported in desperately malnourished condition in my experience.

How long have you had him?

I would isolate him and try and get some good food into him.

I have floated a broad shallow container (for maximum surface area for oxygen exchange) in the main tank, fed live bloodworms and regularly tipped out some of the water through a net, replacing it with water from the main tank.

This got my juvenile through bad ich when it was in an emaciated state. I still have him now 24 years later (in a shoal of six in a six-foot tank I hasten to add!).

 

Thanks for the reply,. It’s about 2mths old... I shall put it in the fry box and go get some fresh blood worm

 

Mmm...

...should be strong and healthy after two months of care and feeding.

I assume you mean you have had the fish for two months. It will be at least a year old having been caught in the wild and shipped.

So, not the usual early establishment problem that these fish usually have - emaciation, ich etc.

But with these small animals it doesn't take much to send them off course. Any fault in the complex biological system of the fish could be to blame. Others may suggest parasites but I don't have experience of these.

I'd give some attention by observing carefully, get some food into him, keep the water refreshed with tank water and hope for the best.

 

Cleared up and eating well.. thanks for the advice

 

Nice one !

Keep learning about and improving the conditions for your fish.