hey everyone, I own a clown plecostomus that I got from the pet store about a month ago. He's pretty much hid behind some jungle val (attached to the glass, sideways) for the remainder of his time, although I saw him out and attached to the glass a few mornings when I woke up. Besides that, he pretty much stays put.
However, he has red stains on the top of his body. It's a bit red tinted over his head, and it's deep red (a dark red streak) on the his left fin. Besides the redness, he looks otherwise healthy. I haven't gotten a great look at him, and I really can't get a picture, but the redness is pretty flush with his coloring. The area isn't raised and it doesn't look raw or anything. If anyone looked at him they'd probably think the red is his natural coloring, but from everything I've read these dark red streaks aren't normal.
He definatly moves, around in his little area in back of the val, but not very much. The fish store where I bought him from told me he was an algae eater and that as long as there was algae, no food supplements were needed. I haven't really attempted to feed him, largely because he hides out all the time and I'm not too sure how to feed him or with what, so I've just left him alone. There's a TON of algae in the tank, so beyond that, I'm not really too sure what else to feed him.
I was wondering what I should do about this. Other than the redness, from what I can tell, he looks healthy enough. Water quality is good (0 ammonia/nitrite/nitrate), and I do a 40% water change every two weeks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
From what I've read here and other places, I believe this might be a bacterial infection, but I'm not too sure. I don't have an available hospital tank right now but perhaps get one setup if needed depending on what needs to be done to the little guy if anything.
EDIT: On advice from other people, I've added in a blanched broccoli stem and a blanched green bean to the tank. I'll also be adding some drift wood for the clown pleco soon.
However, he has red stains on the top of his body. It's a bit red tinted over his head, and it's deep red (a dark red streak) on the his left fin. Besides the redness, he looks otherwise healthy. I haven't gotten a great look at him, and I really can't get a picture, but the redness is pretty flush with his coloring. The area isn't raised and it doesn't look raw or anything. If anyone looked at him they'd probably think the red is his natural coloring, but from everything I've read these dark red streaks aren't normal.
He definatly moves, around in his little area in back of the val, but not very much. The fish store where I bought him from told me he was an algae eater and that as long as there was algae, no food supplements were needed. I haven't really attempted to feed him, largely because he hides out all the time and I'm not too sure how to feed him or with what, so I've just left him alone. There's a TON of algae in the tank, so beyond that, I'm not really too sure what else to feed him.
I was wondering what I should do about this. Other than the redness, from what I can tell, he looks healthy enough. Water quality is good (0 ammonia/nitrite/nitrate), and I do a 40% water change every two weeks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
From what I've read here and other places, I believe this might be a bacterial infection, but I'm not too sure. I don't have an available hospital tank right now but perhaps get one setup if needed depending on what needs to be done to the little guy if anything.
EDIT: On advice from other people, I've added in a blanched broccoli stem and a blanched green bean to the tank. I'll also be adding some drift wood for the clown pleco soon.
