Clown loach health & death queries

[Calsberg]

Hi

Hv been keeping clown loaches as tank mates to my aros for a loooong time. I find them the best tank mate to be in partnership with my aros. Over the years, some loaches have died but the manner of their death does puzzle me.

They tend to stop eating and waste away into skin & bones before dying. They do rush for food but after messing with the food in their mouth, they'd spit it out and eventually starve away over the weeks/months. There are no external signs of desease etc. The loaches dont appear 'aged' and are about 7-8".

I feed them sinking pellets mostly (99%) and they do nibble at some super worms (or crickets) that misses my aro's attention and drift to the bottom. This year, I've also tried to increase their diet variety by incorporating live tubifex and recently canned atlantic shrimps. Hope to do this every few months to address potential nutritional deficiency.

Appreciate any insight into this matter.

Cheerz