Clown Loach Help Fish Disease

[jfish25]

I have lost a clown loach recently (symptoms are swimming erratically in circles and rapid breathing - fins are normal and body appears normal).

I currently have a sick clown loach with different symptoms - #fishmedic any idea what this is (black spots, ragged fins, eyes clouded, rapid breathing)? What medication should I treat it with?

Background - I have 6 clown loaches in a 110+ gallon tank and they all have been healthy for years. About 4 months ago the tank missed a water change/cleaning. Since then it has undergone regular water changes. A week ago, I tested the water, and nitrites and ammonium are normal. The pH is slightly high and the nitrates are definitely high. In the past 2 weeks, I have done more frequent water changes and have added NitraZorb and Acurel Nitrate Reducing pad to bring down the nitrates.

Thanks for your help?

 

[TX_REEF]

this is a freshwater fish, right? not sure how much help you'll find here, but in any case, I'd recommend uploading a youtube link to the video so it can be reviewed more easily.

 

[Malcontent]

I've been keeping clown loaches for 20+ years.

Nitrates aren't very toxic so I don't even bother testing them. I think lack of maintenance lead to organic waste accumulation. That is highly correlated with bacterial infection. Fin rot and cloudy eyes are also signs of a bacterial infection.

I usually treat with ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim. Usually in the water unless it's just minor wounds that aren't healing in which case I'll try medicated gel food.

These are antibiotics used by fish vets. The stuff sold to hobbyists usually don't work.

Your fish need emergency care and you don't have time to mail order these drugs. Fortunately, you have a fish vet in Madison and another in the Chicago area:

https://fishvets.org/find-a-fish-vet/
When I lived in CA, I took one of my loaches to UC Davis where he received injectable antibiotics. He survived.