Nethemas - 2009-02-15
Jennie: it sounds as if your loach might be having trouble regulating it's "swim bladder." This can be caused by a few things including infections. This problem while not fatal per-se in and of itself, it can prevent the poor guy from reaching food at the bottom of the tank.

I would recommend paying close attention to feeding, stooling, signs of infections (raised scales, inflamed anus, swelling, etc.), behavior (lights on/off). Mean while cruise around the web looking for information on swim bladder infections, especially pertaining to loaches for which this problem is more common.
Editor's Note: There is a lot of information about swim bladder disease online, and you can also read about the symptoms and treatments here on Animal-World, on the "Aquarium Fish Diseases and Treatments" page. Good luck with your fish!

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Tom Curtis - 2010-05-24
Can dojo loaches survive in outdoor ponds?

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leopard loach - 2010-06-15
I have 2 of these loaches is that enough? I haven't seen him eat, I know they're nocturnal but should I do anything?

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Amay - 2010-08-05
I inherited my Do Jo Loach. My daughter came to live with me for her 8th grade year and her "step-mom" bought her this fish. When she came to live with me, her Dad told her that the fish had to come with her because he was not going to take care of it for her.

I thought, no big deal, fish die within about 2-3 years tops. She has now since finished high school and the darn fish still is hanging out! Then I read this darn thing, "Billy" is going to most likely live for up to 12 years! What the heck!

All in all, it is a hardly little one. I have gone days without feeding Billy. I don't bother with cleaning the tank. I have yet to get any tank mates because I have not known what kind of fish would live best with the little one. I tried a Beta fish, um, that lasted all but 3 hours before I realized that was a bad match! Then I am reading here that they need mellow fish.

So thank you for the longest living fish on earth! I think it is going to out live me! LOL!

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chel-c - 2010-07-23
My loach that I recently purchased has been mauled by a freshwater puffer fish! He is still alive but all its fins have been eaten off and its mouth is severely damaged. I removed the puffer and gave it away, it's been 24hrs and my loach has uprighted himself and the neon tankmates are eating the mauled parts that hang off I believe he will make it but I'm not sure is there anything extra to do to help him? Comments will be greatly appreciated. Oh also can I put a dragonfish in with him?

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conor - 2010-06-24
HELP! I bought 2 kuhli loaches 2 wks ago! They were doing great for the first wk BUT now BOTH are erratically swimming on their backs and are just sitting on the bottom or in plants. They have everything they need (plants, rocks, hiding spots, etc) HELP! I don't know what to do!

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Joey Bear - 2010-06-19
I was given a "weather" loach about 2 years ago and simply love her! She is in a community tank (90 gal. Bow Front) with a female Frontosa, Veil Tail Oscar, (2) Green Terrors, Livingstonii, Spotted Pleco, (2) Cories, and a baby Total Spotted Pleco. She likes to "nurture" the Smaller and/or fry fish but seems to be VERY aggressive w/all the others, what gives?! If any one wants they can contact me at my email : emvm1116@gmail.com

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Erica - 2010-05-23
I have a dojo loach which is about seven years old. She jumped out of the tank one night and dried out almost on the floor before I found her. I put her back in the tank, she recovered after a few days, losing fin ends and barble ends, but she grew them back. I introduced another loach a few months back, some time later, my large loach, now almost ten inches long, began having shed like spots on her sides and swim bladder issues. I followed the instructions of the aquarium shop people, treating with BiFuran+ with half tank water changes every other day for a week. This worked, my loach was back on the floor of the tank, not floating sideways at the top anymore. When I stop treatment, though, she gets shed spots on her and if stressed floats sideways again. Her face is now whitish, but not fuzzy, and she doesn't seem to be eating. I can't put live plants back in for her to hide in/under, until I rid the tank of medicine (the medicine killed my plants almost overnight) with more water changes, but I'm scared to do that because it seems to be a huge stressor. I don't want to lose this amazing fish, she swims (or did, when healthy) through my fingers and takes food from me. What should I do?

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Andy - 2010-04-25
I have an 80gal tank. I did my reserch and have lots of sand and gravel and plenty of hiding places. I got two Dojos about 3 inches each. At first I saw both 2 or 3 times a day. Now 2 weeks in I see one if I am lucky. Also have two six inch comments and two small cwarfish plus 4 water hyacinth. Note the goldfish are very active. This is not at all what I expected from these fish. Any comments? Thanks Andy

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laurie - 2010-04-19
We have had a nice dojo in our 55 gallon tank for about 3 years now. He is pretty interesting to watch. Lately he has been swimming upside down and spinning in an upside down circle. Any ideas what might be going on with him? I don't want to lose him, but at the same time if he is just going to continue going down, I would probably euthanize him. Any info is appreciated.

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