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One of my clown loaches has been acting unwell on and off for the past two or three months. Initially it appeared to go off on its own a lot, hiding it its cave and rarely eating. After a weekend away I got back to find my CL healthy and normal again. Shortly after it went through a funny patch again only this time I noticed a scratch on its side, presumably from a food fight with other CL's.

Anyway, this seemed to clear up and he seemed to get better. But again it has happened and there are more visible signs such as a funny little growth on the mouth (almost like a bubble) and clamped fins. I got worried that it might be something contagious and attempted to get the sick CL out. It was too fast for me and I wasn't getting anywhere, causing me to believe that perhaps it isn't that sick if it has the energy to swim as fast as it was.

pH 7.4 - 7.6
amm 0.0
nitrite 0.0
GH 6 - 7

In the disease identifier, as soon as I clicked 'yes' it took me to tuberculosis. Could this be right? So far, none of my other fish are showing signs. But the fact that the sick CL recently had a scratch on it causes me to believe it is possible.

What do you all think?

fish TB is usually noted by a bent spine.

as far as im aware, there is no cure for it.

I do know garyroland knows alot about this disease.



Last edited by victimizati0n at 05-Dec-2004 06:40

Inactivity, loss of color or appetite, weight loss and skin defects can be the indicators of fish TB...

There are cases where the spine bends and ulcerations of the skin appear.

Since the disease is contageous, tank sterilization must take place and the trop destroyed if indeed all the symptoms are present.

--garyroland.

i haven't noticed any bent spine, other than the natural arched back that CL's have naturally. Also, I get the impression that TB is an extremely fast acting disease. The particular sick fish I speak of has been like this for almost a week and still the other fish seem okay.

What are the reasons that TB would develop? If i recognise one of the reasons, perhaps I'll be able to identify the disease.

PS. The sick fish still looks sick but is becomeing a bit more active, even eating a bit of food this morning. Its a very confusing fish.

You're probably all wondering what exactly it is doing that makes me think it is sick. Firstly, its front fins are swimming like crazy to keep afloat, the gills are flapping like mad and its dorsal fin is clamped down.