Blehh... Loaches are the slimyest fish ever!

[Plec123]

I was trying to get my cl out of my tank to bring back to the lfs today, and when i picked him up out of the net, he slipped and fell back into tue tank, leaving me with a slimy hand... This happened 2 more times and i ended up with slime covered hands. I washed my hands but didnt get all the slime off... Now every time ive washed my hands all day my hands have gotten slimy again because the dried slime is getting wet again.
Lesson learned: dont touch loaches... However the good news is that my clown loach is happy at the lfs and not miserable all by himself in my 38gal tank.

 

[bigspizz]

WOW.

 

[Plec123]

What do you mean "WOW"? Did i do something bad?
Oh by the way i think i figured out why loaches have such a heavy slime coat: they need something to protect themselves since they have either very small or no scales. Of course most of you probably knew that...

 

[ewurm]

You shouldn't really touch the fish, it damages their slime coat, which is what is on your hands. Even worse for scaleless fish like loaches

 

[Plec123]

Oh........ I hope i didnt cause any harm... The loach seemed fine when it was in the bag. Sorry guys... I didnt know. You dont think what i did is gonna cause it to get ich or die in the lfs do you? While i never wanted him in the first place i dont want to cause him any harm.....

 

[dwilder]

shouldnt touch the fish but lots of times nets do as much damage or more

 

[Lupin]

They'd get ich only if ich is already around as low level infection or in unquarantined specimens carrying it otherwise no.

 

[Plec123]

oh ok it went to the best lfs ive ever been to amd ive never seen a fishthere with ich.

 

[Eric A]

You also don't touch loaches cos they will prick you with their spine, I got done by my largest pakistani.

 

[cypher1024]

...by himself in my 38gal tank.

In case you ever get back into loaches, make sure you get at least 5. Otherwise they get depressed (or picked on if you only get two or three).