Suzanne - 2011-01-23 We have had our weather loach 7 to 8 years, he has become very bloated and seems to have gone a lot paler in colour, also his back end keeps floating to towards the top of the tank. Can anybody tell me what's wrong with him and is there anything I can do to help him?
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Gary Youhas - 2011-03-09 It sounds simple and unflattering to the owner but bladder problems most often occur when the water and or diet are neglected. Dojos require clean water and a varied diet. Clean water means no algae with 10% weekly changes. It is best to add aquarium salt to your fresh water aquarium. REPEAT: add salt to your fresh water aquarium. The salt keeps microbes, parasites, germs suppressed so your fish don't easily get sick. All fresh water fish can tolerate some salt. The objective is brackish water: having some salt to control disease and parasites from food, fish, live foods, etc. DO NOT make a salt water aquarium. See product directions. I use about 1/4 to 1 tsp per gallon of fresh water. This is the amount that suits my volume, feeding habits and foods. It's just good medicine. Food for bladder trouble, make skinless peas, corn, potato, lettuce for snails part of your dojo diet. Peas act like a laxative and help digestion. Also skip feeding at least one day a week to allow complete digestion, allow appetites to increase and not just keep stuffing themselves. Sorry for the blabber. Clean brackish weekly 10% water changes. Salt does not evaporate but some will build in your filter cover so replace that same amount a few months later. Add skinless peas, corn, carrots pieces to your dojo diet to aid digestion. After doing these changes allow one week to a month for changes to take affect. If no improvement, your dojo is probably getting old or you have some really bad rainstorms, the barometric pressures cause his bladder reactions indicating rain is coming, ie. Weather Loach. Good Luck
CJ - 2010-09-27 I must be doing something wrong! I got a Brown Dojo Loach a bout 3 weeks ago and all it does is hide, as far as I know none of my fish have been bothering it. Yesterday I went and got another Dojo Loach all I could find was the Gold one, I put him in the tank (I have a 60 gal tank) he didn't hide right away but after awhile he hide. My question is how do you get these little guys to be friendly toward me cause I do like them and they are cute,but my Mollies are more friendlier than the dojos are. Thank you CJ
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Stephanie - 2010-11-23 You might have to get wet for this one! My partner is in love with these fish and in truth so am I lol. They can be quite affectionate. They come out to play around our fingers and the one will even sit in your hand when cleaning out the tank. In the early days they were fairly timid but my partner used frozen blood worms (the ones that come in a sheet of blocks) he would lower the block to just in front of where they are (as they can't see from behind/let them approach a bit like a dog really..) and in time they would come straight out as soon as you open the tank. Also the more places to hide they have the more likely you are to see them..sounds silly but it works.
docter.Z - 2011-02-05 This is normal for them. They are most active at night, so they hide in the day.
Over time they become more tame and if you take time you can even get him to come out for some food!
N. Damon - 2007-04-25 We have had to dojo loaches for at least 2 years and although I didn't like the look of them at first my adult son purchased them for his tank. He went out of town to work leaving me to care for them. They are great fun to watch and indeed have their own personalities. We had not given a thought to changing the environment of the tank from that of our usual fish but after going online yesterday and learning more about them we have completey redone our tank with new gravel which is softer and they can burrow in. It is well worth the great effort we have gone through. They are in a 50 + 5 sided tank and enjoy zooming around like lightning. We added most of the old water back in as we needed more gravel and they were jumping like trout in a lake. Great fun to watch and lovable once you get used to their more eel like appearance. Our local pet store doesn't have a lot of success in getting them in alive but have agreed to special order some for us. We found we have a male and female so may in the future attempt the breeding instructions we found on the web. We have regular brown dogo's. We once had a pair that were more silver/blue but can't find any information on them nor do they show up online. Those who are part of this world of Dojo's seem to enjoy them as much as we do. While their tank was in a corner of the room for almost a year since moving them out into an area where they can SEE what's happening they are much more active and having a lot of fun. Any info. on tank mates of a more colorful nature would be appreciated, thanks all and help keep these wonderful creatures more known to other fish lovers who might not yet have discovered their special uniqeness.
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Alisabeth - 2010-09-29 Our dojos (we have 3 of the gold variety) thoroughly enjoy the company of our ryukin goldfish and butterfly koi. Recently, we added two black moors to our tank and they are all getting along as well. The koi and the ryukin goldfish come in all varieties of colors that might compliment your tank habitat. =)
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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Emma - 2010-09-27 My dojo loach I got about 5 days ago, when I came home from school I found it resting upside-down. At first it looked like it was dead but then I saw that about every 5 seconds it would take a big gulp of water, I tried poking it and it swam around but it settled upside-down again. It has been eating and has been very active. Is this a bladder infection as well? Please help me!
Tom Curtis - 2010-05-24 Can dojo loaches survive in outdoor ponds?
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Mermaid - 2010-06-21 Tom, I've had a loach in my outdoor pond here in the So.Cal area for almost a year. It's doing fine with it's mates, a handful of mosquito fish, a beautiful goldie (looks like koi, but not sure of lineage), and a crusty crawdaddy.
Lois Fermin - 2010-08-12 Yes, as long as the water temperature stays below 30 degrees C. We grow them in outdoor ponds and ricefields.
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!
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?
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
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?
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
The Dojo Loach is a true curiosity with their habit of becoming very active when there is a weather change!
We have had our weather loach 7 to 8 years, he has become very bloated and seems to have gone a lot paler in colour, also his back end keeps floating to towards the top of the tank. Can anybody tell me what's wrong with him and is there anything I can do to help him?
It sounds simple and unflattering to the owner but bladder problems most often occur when the water and or diet are neglected. Dojos require clean water and a varied diet. Clean water means no algae with 10% weekly changes. It is best to add aquarium salt to your fresh water aquarium. REPEAT: add salt to your fresh water aquarium. The salt keeps microbes, parasites, germs suppressed so your fish don't easily get sick. All fresh water fish can tolerate some salt. The objective is brackish water: having some salt to control disease and parasites from food, fish, live foods, etc. DO NOT make a salt water aquarium. See product directions. I use about 1/4 to 1 tsp per gallon of fresh water. This is the amount that suits my volume, feeding habits and foods. It's just good medicine. Food for bladder trouble, make skinless peas, corn, potato, lettuce for snails part of your dojo diet. Peas act like a laxative and help digestion. Also skip feeding at least one day a week to allow complete digestion, allow appetites to increase and not just keep stuffing themselves. Sorry for the blabber. Clean brackish weekly 10% water changes. Salt does not evaporate but some will build in your filter cover so replace that same amount a few months later. Add skinless peas, corn, carrots pieces to your dojo diet to aid digestion. After doing these changes allow one week to a month for changes to take affect. If no improvement, your dojo is probably getting old or you have some really bad rainstorms, the barometric pressures cause his bladder reactions indicating rain is coming, ie. Weather Loach. Good Luck
I must be doing something wrong! I got a Brown Dojo Loach a bout 3 weeks ago and all it does is hide, as far as I know none of my fish have been bothering it.
Yesterday I went and got another Dojo Loach all I could find was the Gold one, I put him in the tank (I have a 60 gal tank) he didn't hide right away but after awhile he hide.
My question is how do you get these little guys to be friendly toward me cause I do like them and they are cute,but my Mollies are more friendlier than the dojos are.
Thank you
CJ
You might have to get wet for this one! My partner is in love with these fish and in truth so am I lol. They can be quite affectionate. They come out to play around our fingers and the one will even sit in your hand when cleaning out the tank. In the early days they were fairly timid but my partner used frozen blood worms (the ones that come in a sheet of blocks) he would lower the block to just in front of where they are (as they can't see from behind/let them approach a bit like a dog really..) and in time they would come straight out as soon as you open the tank. Also the more places to hide they have the more likely you are to see them..sounds silly but it works.
This is normal for them. They are most active at night, so they hide in the day.
Over time they become more tame and if you take time you can even get him to come out for some food!
We have had to dojo loaches for at least 2 years and although I didn't like the look of them at first my adult son purchased them for his tank. He went out of town to work leaving me to care for them. They are great fun to watch and indeed have their own personalities. We had not given a thought to changing the environment of the tank from that of our usual fish but after going online yesterday and learning more about them we have completey redone our tank with new gravel which is softer and they can burrow in. It is well worth the great effort we have gone through. They are in a 50 + 5 sided tank and enjoy zooming around like lightning. We added most of the old water back in as we needed more gravel and they were jumping like trout in a lake. Great fun to watch and lovable once you get used to their more eel like appearance. Our local pet store doesn't have a lot of success in getting them in alive but have agreed to special order some for us. We found we have a male and female so may in the future attempt the breeding instructions we found on the web. We have regular brown dogo's. We once had a pair that were more silver/blue but can't find any information on them nor do they show up online. Those who are part of this world of Dojo's seem to enjoy them as much as we do. While their tank was in a corner of the room for almost a year since moving them out into an area where they can SEE what's happening they are much more active and having a lot of fun. Any info. on tank mates of a more colorful nature would be appreciated, thanks all and help keep these wonderful creatures more known to other fish lovers who might not yet have discovered their special uniqeness.
Our dojos (we have 3 of the gold variety) thoroughly enjoy the company of our ryukin goldfish and butterfly koi. Recently, we added two black moors to our tank and they are all getting along as well. The koi and the ryukin goldfish come in all varieties of colors that might compliment your tank habitat. =)
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!
My dojo loach I got about 5 days ago, when I came home from school I found it resting upside-down. At first it looked like it was dead but then I saw that about every 5 seconds it would take a big gulp of water, I tried poking it and it swam around but it settled upside-down again. It has been eating and has been very active. Is this a bladder infection as well? Please help me!
Can dojo loaches survive in outdoor ponds?
Tom, I've had a loach in my outdoor pond here in the So.Cal area for almost a year. It's doing fine with it's mates, a handful of mosquito fish, a beautiful goldie (looks like koi, but not sure of lineage), and a crusty crawdaddy.
Yes, as long as the water temperature stays below 30 degrees C. We grow them in outdoor ponds and ricefields.
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!
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?
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
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?
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