Sick huge pleco [Archive] - Aquaria Central

Amything

06-30-2004, 8:16 AM

Hi,

I have a fully grown pleco in a 130 gal tank. This morning I noticed that his scales are not as they should be.

I have a picture here: http://www.finna.is/amything/upload/images/fish/pleco1.jpg
and here:
http://www.finna.is/amything/upload/images/fish/pleco2.jpg

It looks pretty serious. His behaviour is also noticably worse, hangs out near top of tank and I can actually hear him breathing air from above the surface somtimes.

Other fish in the tank look and act normal.

There is another big pleco in the tank who is the boss, but it has never been so serious that he could have hurt him so bad but I can't be sure I guess.

Any ideas what this could be?

dwayne

06-30-2004, 8:29 AM

How's the water quality?
What are the other fish in the tank besides the other pleco (anyone who maybe beat up on him)?
How old is he?
Is he eating much?

His scales definately look raised, could be dropsy. And the fact that you can hear him breathing air at the top of the tank kind of worries me...

I'd say put him in isolation, if he's the only sick looking one in the tank, but do you have a spare tank big enough for him to be comfortable in?

~Tara

Amything

06-30-2004, 8:40 AM

Thanks for the reply.

Water quality:
My wife and I change water relegiously, I don't have any measurements atm but tank has been up for 3 years with no problems.

There are 2 Oscars in there as well, but the only fish that bothers him is another pleco. He kind of bullies it alot. My wife thinks it's because of him. I'm not so sure.

He is about 6 years old. Got him when he was somewhere around 3 years old. Might be +1 or +2 years.

I have a spare 30 gal, it's a very low shaped tank, should be ok for him, in the process of putting him there now. Plan on changing water 2x a day but should I add any medicine in there?

clayt101

06-30-2004, 8:44 AM

Adult plecos are territorial. My guess is that the other pleco is the cause. If you see the one pleco bullying the other, it is probably much worse at night when the plecos are active.

dwayne

06-30-2004, 9:04 AM

I would put him in the 30 gallon tank, once it's ready. Just put a thin layer of gravel, and a hiding spot for him to feel comfortable (don't want to take up too much room in the tank, being that he's so big!).

This is a total guess on my part, but judging from his scales, I'd guess he has dropsy (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I found these that cures dropsy:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28063;category_id=3427
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28141;category_id=

I love Melafix, but don't know if it's effective for dropsy (if that is indeed what the fish's problem is). Go to your LFS and look at all the different medications and see which ones are labelled for dropsy.

Anyway, yes, I'd remove him and add some medication to the tank. Do big water changes (30-50%) every day or every other day (because he's such a big waste producer in a small tank).

I also think Clay may be right, that if you see the other pleco beat this one up during the day, at night when the lights go off, the gloves come off! You may want to consider getting rid of one of them when this one is all better (to prevent recurrence).

Good luck!

~Tara

RioXingu

06-30-2004, 1:11 PM

It does not look like dropsy to me. In all my years of fish keeping, I've only seen dropsy twice. I've never seen any outward signs of disease on a pleco, and I have been keeping them for over 20 years.
I think it looks more like a wound of some kind, or a scrape incurred by the fish as he tried to wedge himself where he was too big to fit.
One characteristic of plecos is that they get listless and turn a whitish color just before they expire.
I hope that is not the case here. Isolating him in a tank where he is not harrassed and has some time to recoup is the best idea.

Bill in WI

dwayne

06-30-2004, 1:25 PM

Bill... dont' his scales look like they're kind of sticking out, like a pinecone... isn't that a tell tale sign of dropsy? I could very well be wrong here Amything... but it can't hurt to add some Melafix to his isolation tank.

I hope he pulls through.

~Tara

LongTime

06-30-2004, 1:43 PM

I vote more for an injury than dropsy and melafix is a good idea, IMO.

Dangerdoll

06-30-2004, 1:45 PM

he looks beat up a bit to me too, but not because of dropsy..... he just doesn't have that fully rounded pine cone look in my opinion...... the scales look to be too isolated for that..... BUT he also looks pretty skinny in my opinion......
Amything, are you sure both pleco's are getting enough food and not one over the other? At this point< i would say separation is a must for this guy, especially because the reason for his scales looking this way is not so obvious.... as well as the spats with the other pleco in the tank. Then, if you cannot keep him in his own tank permanently, I would look into giving him up once he's healthy again.

Watcher74

06-30-2004, 1:59 PM

I'm a little confused by everyone talking about the Pleco's scales.

I thought all catfish were either naked(scaleless) or covered in bony scutes (armoured), not scaled.

Is that not true?

Amything

06-30-2004, 3:29 PM

Thank you all so much for the replies!

I think the wounds make him look abnormaly skinny. I'm usually more concerned that the fish are too fat but I will keep a look out.

I didn't make it to a pet store today because of making the hospital tank ready and had to go straight to work after that. I was wondering if putting salt in the hospital tank would be a good idea? Or should I hold out for melafix (or something similar they carry around these parts).

KrazeeFishLadee

06-30-2004, 4:13 PM

Melafix, melafix melafix!!! Melafix is used for treating wounds versus Pimafix is used for treated fungus. We use Melafix at the store alot and the plecs all seem to tolerate it well. I agree that it looks like a battle wound. Plecs don't usually tolerate salt that well although I add salt to all my tanks during weekly water changes. If he is in his own tank I may hold out until you can get the Melafix. Also, like stated before he does look a bit thin. Have you ever tried fresh zucchini with him??? If not, give it a try. They love it and it will make him feel special. :)

Good Luck and keep us posted.

Dangerdoll

06-30-2004, 4:47 PM

Originally posted by Watcher74
I'm a little confused by everyone talking about the Pleco's scales.

I thought all catfish were either naked(scaleless) or covered in bony scutes (armoured), not scaled.

Is that not true?
Actually, the large bony "scales are armour plating or scutes which provide a shield.

Amything, I would also hold out for the melafix as salt could irritate the pleco, causing his immune system to drop more than it already may be... especially since you will be moving him to a hospital tank.... if you haven't already done so.

tpl*co

06-30-2004, 5:04 PM

Those are just his armor plates in the picture, not dropsy. He is showing the paleness of extreme stress (I agree I've seen this in plecos before they belly up too).

I agree with the other recommendations about moving him into another tank.

No salt!!!! Plecos from what I've heard don't like salt (I don't have any in my tank with my fancies).

I'd worry about medications at full strength right now. Maybe try at half strength to see how he handles it and monitor him closely for any adverse reactions. He's on the edge now, and anything may send him over.

Put in some wood for him to chew, and feed him cucumber, spinich or some type of greens and algae wafers. If he doesn't eat try a little garlic on his greens to see if that builds up his apatite (yeah I feel like I need to go to cooking school for my plecos).

I'd go for a broad spectrum antibiotic at half strength, maybe he has an injury from the other pleco, or the other pleco didn't let him eat. Those guys have sharp spines on the end of their fins that they use in battle.

Put some current and plenty of water movement in his hospital tank.

Good luck! fingers crossed he makes it through this!
tpl*co

Amything

07-01-2004, 7:50 AM

Well I called every pet store in the country and no one has heard of melafix. I read up on it and it seems to be a natural extract which I guess means it's more difficult to find something that does the same thing.

One store recomended some Aloe Vera medicine. I guess thats the next best thing at this time?

dwayne

07-01-2004, 8:16 AM

I just read your information, and didn't realize you live in Iceland... how cool!!

I found this site to buy some melafix:

http://www.aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=MDab

That is a very good price!!! I paid $8 for my bottle at PetSmart. I couldn't figure out how much they charge for shipping, but they will ship to Iceland...

I've never heard of using aloe vera, but it IS all natural and probably couldn't hurt matters.

Good luck!

~Tara

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 10:23 AM

I was going to recommend Petsmart too, since I've seen it there too. I've never heard about aloe vera for fish either, but I guess since it works on humans for injuries? Have you moved him yet? How's he doing?

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 10:28 AM

petsmart (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 7336&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1088695525149)

It says it has tea tree extract, does your fish store have something similar?

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 10:36 AM

Use your search engine (google or Yahoo) and type in "Melafix recipe" It has come up before. Here's some sites:

http://www.angelfish.net/yabbse/index.php?board=5%3Baction=display%3Bthreadid=471

http://www.auspet.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000766.html

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 10:38 AM

Do you have a pharmacy or health food store that would carry it? I think tea tree oil would be easier to find than Melafix since you are overseas :)

Must4ng s4lly

07-01-2004, 11:03 AM

Order Melafix from www.drsfostersmith.com and get it overnighted.

also a veggie clip woth some Zuchinni in it. I was under feeding my foot long plec and have started giving him zuchinni and a a little more algae sinking tabs. He LOVES the green zuchinni best! He devourers it! Cut at an angle and leave the soft part out for him to rasp at. My plec has gained weight and he looks much better from the zuchinni

Please let us now how he is doing. I hope he is better after being seperated from the other one.

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 11:11 AM

That I rubberband to a rock, I peel it for them a little since they don't seem to like the peel. I get small cucumbers with small seeds since the large seeds are terrible in messing up the tank! I've also read somewhere that potato is good for underweight plecos (was suggested for plecos that just came out of shipping). I think it said to put in in uncooked and take it out within 12-24 hours to prevent polluting the tank. Haven't tried this though but I see that potato is an ingredient in tetramin bottom feeder rich mix pellets, so there must be something to it.

tpl*co

07-01-2004, 11:23 AM

Here's a site that says sweet potato
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/catfishology/properplecos.htm

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gpleco2.html

LongTime

07-01-2004, 1:29 PM

Mine don't go for the sweet potatos.

Amything

07-02-2004, 3:36 PM

Thank you all for the replies!

He is doing much better now. He ate a little bit zuchini yesterday and is really chowing down today. His coloration is slightly better and I think he will be ok.

Can't really say if the Aloa Gel helped or not but it certainly didn't hurt. I will order some Melafix to have around in case I need it later.

Must4ng s4lly mentioned a "Veggie clip". Is that some sort of specialized device for feeding plecos. Currently we are using a fork to make the veggies sink. Not real handy.

tpl*co

07-02-2004, 3:56 PM

I've seen them and they look like those potato chip bag clips (to hold the bag closed), if you have access to those maybe that would work. What I use though is a rubberband around a medium sized flat rock. I then secure the greens under the rubberband. (of course my plecos are smaller though)

Take care and I'm glad he's feeling better!