pleco's eyelids eaten by loaches!

[goodyear]

My beloved pleco Lestat, who is already battling ich, was attacked by some yo yo loaches last night and now he has no more eyelids!! No blinking!! He seems terrible...hiding and not moving...and I am sooo unhappy and worried. Please does anyone know if they will grow back? I have Pima Fix , Melafix and Coppersafe in the tank. This is breaking my heart. Help!!

[clayt101]

I would first start by raising the temperature. Do pleco's have eyelids?

[aardvark1]

I thought fish didn't have eyelids....

[goodyear]

pleco's have pseudo eyelids, I don't know the correct scientific name, but if you have one yourself, you'll notice that they have maybe "nictitating membranes" like sharks, around their sunken eye area, and additionaslly an 'eye clamp', that causes their iris to appear in the shape of an omega. By clamping this thing, they determine how much light gets into their eyes, as it doesn't otherwise self regulate. The eye clamp thing is fine, it's the surrounding membranes, aka eyelids that are completely gone. He's hiding and I moved him into a cave and he didn't even flinch which is a really bad sign I think...does anyone know if they can grow back???

[aardvark1]

I stand (actually sit) corrected! :cool:

Never have taken that close of a look at "Ralph"; he's normally hangin' out in the plants or on the back of the tank...