Upside down/slow growth

Good day
Hey friends, I was wondering if you could help me with something. I have a set of Dojo Loaches, for about 4 months now. When I got them, they were the same size. They both were growing quickly, but over time my female stopped growing (or is growing a lot slower then her male friend) now there is a big difference in size between the two. I have been watching her, and I notice that she's become super shy. She used to come out and eat out of my hand, swim around. Now she hides, hardly eats, and well doesn't grow. This has been going on for sometime. The tank is cycled, and I gave a big selection of food that I have tried in he tank. I even started feeding stuff that sinks at night. I don't know if she eating it. She used to love peas and little shrimps, now she won't eat them, that I am witnessing. She appears in good health otherwise. I know it's hard to Diagnose an issue like this over messaging, but I'm lots and worried about her growth. I thought about getting another one around her size or smaller maybe needing a tank mate her size. She lays next to her male rank mate just fine though.


29 gl
x2 gold fish x2 dojo loach (yes they will all be in a larger tank eventually, they are all small still).
Cycled
Two filters (my tidal filter is set to low, other at high)
I do weekly water changes (10%)

0ppm ammonia
0 ppm nitrites
20 ppm nitrates
Water hardness good
PH ideal for them

Any suggestions would be great. And much appreciated in advance.

Kristen ❤️

 

It could be that the other one is eating most of the food and may be dominant. Which could explain why she's smaller and hides more.

 

It could be that the other one is eating most of the food and may be dominant. Which could explain why she's smaller and hides more.

I thought maybe the same thing. But I watch her with the other Dojo and she seems fine with him. I will even feed the others on one side of the tank then place the food down by her and she won't touch it. I have seen her eat once in the past week. And it was a bite and that it, she swam off then hide into her fortress of plants. I made it to where I can still see her in there. I do have another tank free of fish; maybe put her in there to see if she “improves” I just don't want to stress her out or add more if she already is. She has a lot of hiding places in this tank.

And thank you emeraldking for your time.

 

In these cases I use a turkey blaster to feed the weaker fish work great for corydoras

 

I think you were on the right track with the idea of adding more Loaches.
Most species of Loaches do better in groups. Although your water parameters are very good, be a good idea to up the weekly WC volume to 25%. It's a good thing to replenish minerals and other micro nutrients that tend to diminish between WC's.

 

Recently I posted about my female Dojo loach not growing correctly. Right after making that post, I noticed she was upside down. I have had both her and her male friend for about 4 months. They share a 29 gal tank with two goldfish. They were all bought at the same time and rough were all about the same size. She doesn’t swim as much (upside down, of course when she does). I have tried hand feeding (they like that); she hasn’t eaten in some time. She doesn’t visibly look ill, and she swims great despite her ailment. But I'm worried…



slow-growing

Won’t eat

Completely upside down (24 hours)



I have given her peas (attempted)

I have tried hand feeding premium fish flakes smoked.

Isolating her

Checked aquarium parameters



Cycled 29 gl established 4 months

Two filters (my table 35 is on low, I use it for the skimmer)

0 ppm ammonia

0 ppm Nitrites

20 ppm Nitrates

PH 7.6

Hardness is ideal

GH perfect

KH perfect



She won’t even eat blood worms, her favorite.

She just doesn’t look sick. Apart from not growing and now upside down, I don’t notice anything else. I watch my fish like a hawk since I got them. I am sensitive, and I don’t want her to die. It makes me super sad. My pets are like my kids .


as I look at her now, breathing has become rapid. (

Thank you in advance
Kristen ❤️

Ps not the best photo, she's normally under something.

 

I keep three varieties of Botia Loaches. Although a little disturbing, it's not unusual to see individual Loaches lying on their sides or backs. It's a natural behavior.
Don't obsess over the situation. Feed normally & look for exterior signs of disease.
Unfortunately Loaches usually don't respond well to meds. Treatments are very limited.

 

I keep three varieties of Dojo Loaches. Although a little disturbing, it's not unusual to see individual Loaches lying on their sides or backs. It's a natural behavior.

Don't obsess over the situation. Feed normally & look for exterior signs of disease.

Unfortunately, Loaches usually don't respond well to meds. Treatments are minimal.

I appreciate your time very much so. She doesn’t eat and I think that’s what makes me worry more over her being upside down—and now breathing quicker. And the fact I can’t do much (if there is an underline reason for this) makes it hard. I do feel somewhat better knowing it’s a natural behavior, but it is worrisome still gives her not eating. (I have noticed her eat once in several weeks, and that was about a week ago. I even attempt feeding at night) I google, and to my surprise, not a lot of info specifically to Dojo Loach. Thank you A201 again for your time.

 

Loaches aren't scaleless fish, but their scales are very tiny. This leads to possible medication overdoses through absorption through skin tissue.
When medicating Loaches, half doses of certain meds are often recommended. Heat & salt treatments are usually the best alternative.

 

Loaches aren't scaleless fish, but their scales are very tiny. This leads to possible medication overdoses through absorption through skin tissue.
When medicating Loaches, half doses of certain meds are often recommended. Heat & salt treatments are usually the best alternative.

I appreciate you, thank you for taking the time to respond. I’m not medicating, because I would have no clue what to medicate for. I tried hand feeding her again today holding her upright, I can’t tell if or how much she’s eating. I just feel sad, seeing her like that just hurts some. I hope she just being a “loach” but it doesn’t seam normal.

 

This type of issue happens to every fish keeper at some point.
Coincidentally, one of my female Filamentosa Barbs suddenly quit eating a few days ago. She's about two y.o. never been a problem.
All you can do is check the boxes. Do what you can & hope for the best. Hope your Loach gets better soon.

 

Hello friends,
I wanted to give an update on my Dojo Loach being upside down. I'm still having issues with her and wanted to discuss changes and provide an update, one because I'm still searching for help and two, in case others come here for answers one day.

I have still been attempting to hand feed: peas, brine shrimp, and soaked fish flake. I honestly can't not say if she is eating. I try to feed her up close at the bottom of the tank, and sometimes I bring her up and place her upright to try and feed. She doesn't seem to be actively trying to eat. Possible particles are getting in, but I can't say she's eating. This would bring her to several weeks of no food.


She is breathing fine; she sometimes flips herself over. I will add a photo. She's upright a few times a day, then ends up upside down yet again. She doesn't swim but at times wiggles around, possibly attempting to flip over. She hooked shaped when trying to flip.

A few days ago, I changed the substrate to very fine sand. Bahama sand. All my fish seem to love it more. I wanted to give my loaches, though especially her the best environment I can. Since switching, this has been when I have seen her getting upright.

It's upsetting to see her not lively like the other fish. None of them bother her. Actually, my other loach likes to lay next to her.

No growth in about two months
Won't eat
Upside down

I'm at a loss. She otherwise seems healthy. Maybe a bit paler in color.

That's my update for now. I'm trying to find groups on Facebook that can help. I'm waiting on approval. Not much info on the Dojo Loach out there. In the one photo attached you see my other Dojo, they were both the same size when I got them 4 months ago, tinny. He's so much larger.

Thanks again in advance everyone

Xx Kristen

This type of issue happens to every fish keeper at some point.
Coincidentally, one of my female Filamentosa Barbs suddenly quit eating a few days ago. She's about Two y.o. never been a problem.
All you can do is check the boxes. Do what you can & hope for the best. Hope your Loach gets better soon.

A201 I thank you for responding and sending hope and positivity my way for my little Loach. Crazy how I feel at a loss when I ran out of boxes to check. I'm hoping for the best as I continue to educate myself and find answers. Thank you again and I hope you Barb changes for the best. Sending positive vibes.

 

Thanks for the kind words. By chance I just caught my Tiger Loach & one of the Red Tail Loaches sleeping on their sides.
All my Loaches are very healthy & do this on a regular basis. At first glance one would think they were dead.
Maybe your Loach is exhibiting the same behavior only doing it for longer intervals.

 

When I got my "Clowns" even though I knew they sleep on their sides. The first time I witnessed it, still had me concerned. As mentioned they do it now and then...







Good Luck!

 

Hello friends,
I wanted to give an update on my Dojo Loach being upside down. I'm still having issues with her and wanted to discuss changes and provide an update, one because I'm still searching for help and two, in case others come here for answers one day.

I have still been attempting to hand feed: peas, brine shrimp, and soaked fish flake. I honestly can't not say if she is eating. I try to feed her up close at the bottom of the tank, and sometimes I bring her up and place her upright to try and feed. She doesn't seem to be actively trying to eat. Possible particles are getting in, but I can't say she's eating. This would bring her to several weeks of no food.


She is breathing fine; she sometimes flips herself over. I will add a photo. She's upright a few times a day, then ends up upside down yet again. She doesn't swim but at times wiggles around, possibly attempting to flip over. She hooked shaped when trying to flip.

A few days ago, I changed the substrate to very fine sand. Bahama sand. All my fish seem to love it more. I wanted to give my loaches, though especially her the best environment I can. Since switching, this has been when I have seen her getting upright.

It's upsetting to see her not lively like the other fish. None of them bother her. Actually, my other loach likes to lay next to her.

No growth in about two months
Won't eat
Upside down

I'm at a loss. She otherwise seems healthy. Maybe a bit paler in color.

That's my update for now. I'm trying to find groups on Facebook that can help. I'm waiting on approval. Not much info on the Dojo Loach out there. In the one photo attached you see my other Dojo, they were both the same size when I got them 4 months ago, tinny. He's so much larger.

Thanks again in advance everyone

Xx KristenView attachment 807048

A201 I thank you for responding and sending hope and positivity my way for my little Loach. Crazy how I feel at a loss when I ran out of boxes to check. I'm hoping for the best as I continue to educate myself and find answers. Thank you again and I hope you Barb changes for the best. Sending positive vibes.

There is a great article in practical fishkeeping magazine on these fish, I am at work and can take pictures of it for you when I am at home. From memory I believe these fish can go an incredibly long time without eating, but I need to reread it again as it was a few years ago. Really cool fish with great personality

 

Thanks for the kind words. By chance I just caught my Tiger Loach & one of the Red Tail Loaches sleeping on their sides.
All my Loaches are very healthy & do this on a regular basis. At first glance one would think they were dead.
Maybe your Loach is exhibiting the same behavior only doing it for longer intervals.

Your loaches are so cute ! Makes m want another tank full of them!! I would think the same thing seeing how it's a normal behavior, I believe what has me more on edge apart from a possible natural habit, is that fact I don't believe she's eating, possibly weeks now. She only stays in that spot, not ever moving much. Reacts more to fish swimming by or me going in to touch her. Now I do see her attempt to flip over and granite she can do it from time to time. But she clearly struggles. I was excepted into a large group on Facebook, someone told me she's i’m more than likely going to die. Their coach did the same thing, but they euthanized it. I kind of don't like about that.
Thank you A201 xx, I love your little guys or girls

When I got my "Clowns" even though I knew they sleep on their sides. The first time I witnessed it, still had me concerned. As mentioned they do it now and then...

View attachment 807186

View attachment 807185

Good Luck!

Thank you @jm

When I got my "Clowns" even though I knew they sleep on their sides. The first time I witnessed it, still had me concerned. As mentioned they do it now and then...

View attachment 807186

View attachment 807185

Good Luck!

thabk you jmaldo i love to see healthy happy fish, makes me smile. Seeing everyone's loaches makes me love them even more. When I get another tank set up, I'm going to do all loaches. I do truly hope mine is just sleeping, but she's been like that for exactly a week today. Even when she can on a rare occasion flip over, she can easily get knocked upside down. She doesn't have much control. In the in the photo I'm attaching, looks like her friend is helping her ☺️. My tanks a bit hazy, something that's been a challenge for a bit. I feel I have done everything to fix it, to include just letting it be. Apart from hat things have been well for the tank. I appreciate you, I really do. Xx

 

Hey everyone
I wanted to update on my Dojo Loach. It's been a few days. So as you can see, she's upright. For two days now she has been this way. She “swam” about 1/4 of the way up then back down. This is more than she's done in over a week now. She still can get bumped around easily, and she doesn't move around a lot. But this could be progress? She also seems more alert. I'm still attempting to hand feed her. Soaked flakes, but mostly peas. They have a verity but for her I'm sticking to the two. I hope this is the start of recovery for her. I was told in another group a few days (loach community) about this. I only received one response and it was that their Dojo did this and they decided to euthanize it. I haven't been able to bring myself to that. Maybe that's wrong of me. She just seemed like she had lots in her still. I don't know.

But as of yesterday, she upright. I still can't tell if she consuming food, maybe small pieces.

I will update again on another day and I hope along the way this post will help someone in need. Thank you everyone for being supportive and helpful. I will update again soon. By the way, her name is Arrokuda also thinking she may be a boy haha. ‍♀️

 

Hey friends

First off and far most, a huge thank you to everyone who came here to assist, offer advice and share with me!!

I wanted to give another update on my Golden Dojo Loach. It's been about 10 days since I last posted.

She has impressed me. Though in the one photo, she still appears hooked-shaped, in the other photo, she's straightened out. She is actively a little piggy now (she is spoiled and hand-feed daily, will not eat any other way). She is very fast with swimming, though not all the way typical yet. She swims Corkscrewed, upside down and sometimes “normal” she pretty active through the day, though more moments of stillness compared to her much larger twin that outgrew her. i’m hoping that now that she’s actively a chowhound she will start increasing in size.

About 90% of the time she's upright. And she can now Cruise the complete height of the tank; we are before it was maybe 10 to 20% in height.

Not only do I hand feed her, but I massage her. I started that when she was “stuck” on that hook shape—massaging while slightly straightening, lightly. She let me do it ‍♀️ I can even hold her without her breaking out.

Anyways, I'm posting updates because I want you to know that yes at the end of the day if a fish is ill or hurt you must treat accordingly. At best you know how (research). But for myself there was very little out there for help on my fish. So I'm here to document my journey with her over the past couple of months. When I started posting here around 8/5/21, it's the point she seems she took a very bad turn for the worst.

I used no medications, only API aquarium salt. I kept up with water changes. Consistently checked water parameters, checked on her many many many times throughout the day. continue to research and educate myself. i’m not saying at the end of the day the results for your fish will be a successful, but I hope along the way you have discovered how to be a “better” fish keeper. I know I have learned a lot just over the past half of year.

I hope YOU reading this gives you hope, knowledge and help along your journey.

xx Kristen