Red area on bottom of Reticulated Hillstream Loach

Hello, I received some new Reticulated Hillstream Loaches today and two have an unusual red area visible on their bottom area. Is this something to be concerned about? I’ll post some pictures. Thanks for the help

 

I don’t have a clue! Sorry! Very cool looking fish. I’ve never owned one!

someone help him!

 

I have never had one look like that. I do know they seem to prefer softer substrates and need high dissolved oxygen. I think I would lower the temp or add more flow to get the oxygen up as a first step. See if the spot seems to go away. Maybe add a smooth rock or log to give them a break from the stone just in case it's some kind of irritation.

 

Looks like trauma to me. Probably got hit during transportation or squeezed when caught in a shop. Hard to say how bad it is.

 

Looks like trauma to me. Probably got hit during transportation or squeezed when caught in a shop. Hard to say how bad it is.

I wonder if it was trauma also. I’ll have to keep an eye on it and see if it changes.

 

I wonder if it was trauma also. I’ll have to keep an eye on it and see if it changes.

How is the fish behaving? Is it grazing?

 

substrate might be too sharp, especially as all of them have it

 

substrate might be too sharp, especially as all of them have it

Now that you mentioned, yeah, it's not good, especially because I don't see much of any other surfaces for them besides glass and the hiding place. ChadL, get some rounded substrate and spread on top of the coarse one. Also get some more hardscape, like smooth stones and wood, or more round houses like the one you have.

 

How is the fish behaving? Is it grazing?

They seem to be acting correctly. Being optimistic I believe the redness is fading slightly.

 

I agree that the sharp substrate is likely the culprit. I'd switch that out.

 

substrate might be too sharp, especially as all of them have it

They were just delivered when I originally posted so the substrate did not have a chance to have an effect yet. That being said they don’t seem to have a problem with it. The tank is also planted, so they zoom around on the leaves, the sides of the tank, the moss balls and a few other smooth areas. They also seem to enjoy stirring up the seachem flourite. Of course when I go to take a pic they are everywhere but the bottom .

 

They were just delivered when I originally posted so the substrate did not have a chance to have an effect yet. That being said they don’t seem to have a problem with it. The tank is also planted, so they zoom around on the leaves, the sides of the tank, the moss balls and a few other smooth areas. They also seem to enjoy stirring up the seachem flourite. Of course when I go to take a pic they are everywhere but the bottom .

It could be that they were removed wrong from their previous tanks, causing the injury. There is a neat trick with a credit card to get them to let go and fall into a net without injury. Either way you will see faster healing and more over all activity as you continue to provide them more comfortable places to hang out. In my limited experience I have seen them happiest and most active on sand and driftwood with good flow.

Great to hear that they are doing better. Sounds like they are on the mend.

 

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas. I wanted to post an update incase anyone else encounters this along the way. The red areas have cleared up. Plays into the probability that it was trauma.