Clown Loaches with "beatup" skin?

[Mr Pleco]

" DO NOT add salt despite the advice that is sometimes given. Generally speaking, loaches can't deal with salt and it ends up being a further stress on them. " that quote was taken from :

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=16721

The level of salt needed in the tank to be of any benefit to combat ick would determental to the heath of the loaches over the long term....

What would salt do? As any medication to combat ick is only effective when the parasite is in the free swimming stage...you need to break the life cycle of this parasite.

whatever your course of treatment ensure you increase the aggitation of the tanks surface water as salt, high temps and most other cures? depelete oxygen

my personal preference is Prazipro and maintaining a year round tank temp of 84f..btw haven't had an ick outbreak in 4 years. knock on wood!

 

[justin guest]

I keep my loaches on a low dose of salt permanently cause I also run archerfish. no problems at all. Average cl growth rate about 0.5 cm a month.
The skin issues will clear up without salt however as long as water quality and oxygen levels are good.

j<><

 

[EmilyMarie85]

1. I have a 125g w/ clowns in it. In the past I have used a small dose of salt w/ a temp rise to treat ich - it has cleared the issue right up, no problems, no deaths. If you over do it on the salt, I could see it being a problem but used correctly I think its a great, more natural method of treating ich
2. When my fish get sores from whatever - I do a small dose of Melafix in the tank, just to help the fish heal up and help prevent any infections. Has always worked well - I would suggest putting that in if you are worried about the loaches healing up

 

[tdkee1]

never had any problems with loaches and salt. i've used a lot of salt with loaches before with no problems.