Weather And Golden Dojo Loach Problems :(

Hey guys I could elaborate for a bit on my set up and stuff but I'd love to get my fish healthy first. I have a weather loach and a golden dojo loach amongst other fish. The weather loach jus recently I have discovered he looks bent, kind of like an L shape. The poor guy can barely move and looks to be in much discomfort, panting and spazzing. He has only been like this for 2 days and this came out of nowhere. My dojo loach also seems to be a tiny bit disfigured right behind his head. (Could be my eyes playing tricks) he has always spazzed and spun around but always seemed like a happy healthy fish. So both the Loaches seem to have something very wrong with them, almost looks deformed. If anyone has any information on what I can do to help these guys or where to even start I would very greatly appreciate it. If you need any more info let me know. I also have pictures of him I can hop on my PC and upload if needed thank you guys!

 

Welcome to Fishlore! I'm sorry this has brought you here

Can you please include some more information? Pics would be helpful.

What's the tank size? What's the stocking?

Water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates)?

Have you added any new fish lately?

 

Bent? Did he break surface often? I tried growout for dojos and one poor guy just didnt make it.. mine got stuck in a tree and the. Got sick after I helped free him.. but your saying yours is bent like an L? I know mine would get going so fast that in a 21 inch tall tank would get enough momentum to make my lid jump! Maybe he got spooked or did his weather dance and hit a wall or top too hard? Sometimes they zig zag up and down when a storm system comes and they get pretty crazy. Other than them getting 10 inches give or take they can be super active which is why they suggest larger tanks. I grew mine in a 30 wide 15 deep 21 tall tank. That works when small but once bigger than 3-4 inches you will need a longer tank.

 

I have the same problem with 1 of my dojos.I believe it to be a bone disease that is inherited and can not be cured. Mine has been leating but I'm getting close to euthanizing him because he doesn't seem happy

 

I have the same problem with 1 of my dojos.I believe it to be a bone disease that is inherited and can not be cured. Mine has been leating but I'm getting close to euthanizing him because he doesn't seem happy

You ever see how they process a lot of those pond breed fish? Its dated a little but still pretty close- there is a how its made fish thing shows you how goldfish get selected and shipped. Dojo go through the same process. Out of a shipment of like 30 a quarter of that might make it to through the stores quarantine and even less make it to a home tank. Make sure you keep the temp like 65-73 ish. 75 is pushing it as they are cold water fish. They can take it for short periods but not for life. Make sure they get a good diet. Mine liked shrimp pellets and bottom feeder pellets.. and snails lol

 

Hey guys I woke up this morning for work and lil golden loach was on his side breathing real heavy and the weather loach didn't seem to make any improvements. I will go home on lunch and try and get a better picture that will actually upload. After work I'm gonna get another better test kit and fill you in on the reading. I have a 38g bowfront with one lavender gourami, 2 mollies, 2 small bosemanI rainbows, 5 Cory cats , stick catfish and the 2 Loaches as well as two snails. I do 2 small water changes and gravel vacs a week splitting the tank. Penguin 200 biowheel filter. As previously stated I will.update water params this evening. It has come out of nowhere and I'm very concerned for my lil guys so any ideas on medication or anything I should look into I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks to all who responded

 

To answer some questions... No new fish added within the last 6 months. He and the golden dojo never really get anywhere near the surface. They like to hang out in their lil trees and stay together n behind cover for the most part. The golden dojo has always been a bit spaztic but I have never seen the weather loach do his almost tail chasing spins and flips he's doing now. He seems like he just can't straighten out.

 

To answer some questions... No new fish added within the last 6 months. He and the golden dojo never really get anywhere near the surface. They like to hang out in their lil trees and stay together n behind cover for the most part. The golden dojo has always been a bit spaztic but I have never seen the weather loach do his almost tail chasing spins and flips he's doing now. He seems like he just can't straighten out.

Not sure if you know this but weather loaches and dojo loaches are the same species.

 

Not sure if you know this but weather loaches and dojo loaches are the same species.

I thought so wasn't sure thanks for the clarification. I was told, whether this is true or not the natural color one is natural caught or something along those lines and the gold is more farm raised... Is that correct?

 

I'm going to PetSmart after work. Should I get a quarantine tank or should I not stress the Loaches out anymore? Also any ideas on medication if any? Thanks so much

 

I would hold off on medications until you can provide pics and the info we requested. You can pick up a 10 gal QT if you want, but not sure if it'll help at this point.

 

Tank size :
38g bowfront


Tank stock :
2 Dalmatian mollies
1 lavender guorami
2 weather Loaches
5 Cory cats
2 small bosemanI rainbows
Stick catfish (farlowella)

Water parameters
pH 7.8
Ammonia : 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: hard for me to discern between the two shades of red on apI kit so somewhere between
40-80ppm

I'm working on getting these pictures sized correctly to add

Thanks again - Jake

 

That sounds like your not quite cycled since you've got some ammonia. You want 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0-20ppm nitrate

 

Gotta re take one of the golden but here's the other for now. Almost like a bulb in him. He never had that before

 

The hump right behind his head wasn't there 4 days ago

 

What is the diet? Might be constipated.. check with Tex but I think there's a pea remedy for digestion blockage?

 

They are fed flake food plus Cory wafers (also for Loaches)

 

I don't think diet is an issue, but I don't know what is, sorry

 

Just to give an update the golden guy has gotten really bad almost looks like a tumor. Ive separated him n put him in a mesh breeder. Very little movement when he does he spazzes out and just lays back down. I think it may be time to put him out I hate seeing him suffer like this, please let me know if this is what I should do. The other one still isn't straightened out and moves very little but seems much stronger than the little guy. Like I said looks like tumors/bulge in his body . I'd like to thank everyone for their help and any further assistance you guys are great thanks

 

I'm sorry It sounds like it may be time for his suffering to end

 

Awwwwww! Poor guys. I love my three loaches to death and I'd bawl my eyes out if that ever happened. I hope your other guy makes it. The tan one does look constipated but that's just my thought.

(In my own little world) I call the gold ones Dojo and the natural coloured ones Weather. So I have three "weather" loaches and a ropefish that thinks he's a loach.