Problem With Clown Loach, Pics Posted

[Blazemore]

For about a month I've been having a problem with a white color spots on one of my clown loaches. Its been spreading to one side of his body to the other. The clown far as behavior has been fine, except for the size. Its about a 2 inch smaller and weight is also down than the rest (avg 5-8 inches for the other loaches)

Tank is a 55gal thats been setup for over 3 years. Parameters: PH 7.0-7.2, temp 79-80F, nitrites/nitrates 0, all from jungle test strips other than a digital temp prob. Right now there 6 clowns and 7 giant danios in the tank. A 25% water changed once a week and a gravel vacuum when build-up starts to show. Food is flakes giving twice a day, nothing in the tank has changed except for a powerhead. None of the other clowns / danios have this problem. But I did loose two danios about a week ago for some unknown reason?

I've tried Jungle Fungus Treatment (twice), Jungle Parasite Treatment (once), and Melafix (twice). None seem to have any effect.

pics:

[EdgarMedina1010]

you should try to rise the temp. to 84-86 degrees for about 2 weeks.........

[Blazemore]

You think I need to add anymore treatment while temp is raised?

[joannde]

Forgive me, but I read the posts in the forum to help me learn. Edgar - what do you think the problem with the loach is ?

[Devilishturtles]

Its been spreading to one side of his body to the other.

Can you elaborate? Is it dissapearing and then coming back on the other side? Does it look like it's spreading farther, including the other side of the fish?

To me it just looks like a sore that maybe isn't going away. Maybe he is scratching himself on something. You say you do gravel vacs when you see buildup. How often is that? With clown locahes being bottom dwellers there is more waste/nitrate accumulation down there by the gravel.

[Blazemore]

Can you elaborate? Is it dissapearing and then coming back on the other side? Does it look like it's spreading farther, including the other side of the fish?

The second pic from the top shows what started first, just a white none fuzzy spot. Then maybe two weeks later the other side (pic one from top) started to show. The spot in pic one was small but now its going in the direction of the head to the tail. The spots stay and seems to be growing over time, but not real quick. None of the other clowns have this problem, nor do they scratch themselves on rocks, plants, etc.

From what I have seen, there has been no open wound. I avg a gravel vac every 2 months.

Edgar - what do you think the problem with the loach is ?

X2

[Ky'smommy]

every two months for a gravel vac thats not good?
all the food they miss is on the bottom decaying and going bad. thats not good and unheathly.
i gravel vac everytime i change the water. which is at least once a week.
people say the test strips arent good and give false readings maybe you should get some liquid tests or go to your local petstore and check your water parimeters to see if they come out the same just to be on the safe side.
i dont like the idea of not gravel vaccuming. And maybe find out your ammonia.

[Zagz]

I wouldn't turn up the heat myself. I would do more water changes and keep a close eye on the parameters. A lot of ailments fish have are a result of water conditions. If you are doing gravel vacs once every 2 months, IMO that isn't often enough. Are you doing water changes more often or once every 2 months as well?

[MattAquaBio]

Yeah you should definatly gravel vac more often, at LEAST once every two weeks IMO. Anyway, i agree with zags.
Good luck.

[Blazemore]

Are you doing water changes more often or once every 2 months as well?

Yes I do 25% waterchanges once a week with filter changes / media once a month. After water changes I used Marineland Bio-Coat.

Ok I'll start doing water changes once every two weeks and see if that helps. Is there any better way to gravel vac other than using a Python siphoning hose? Just looking for a way not to waste so much water.