Pleco Help!!!!

[Plecofan21]

I need some help asap!! I have a 75gal tank with a 12inch pleco and three 1inch bumblebee cichlids and this morning when I went to feed them, I found my pleco upside down with a gaping hole just under his mouth. The wound is a several centimeters across. I quickly moved him to a 10 gal isolation tank but his condition hasn't improved much. They usually get along so well but the cichlids must have attacked him, help what do I do? Is there a medicine I can buy for him? Should I have left him in the tank?I don't know what to do

...
~Christy

 

[Ianne]

Well...if the cichlids attacked him letting him heal and putting him back in would not seem very smart although its under his mouth which i would find hard to injure a pleco there
do you have anything sharp in your tank maybe?
Srry the only medicine i know of is frequent water changes and anything that helps with slime coat to heal little wounds

 

[Plecofan21]

He has lived in my 75gal for two years, there isn't anything sharp in it. Once I tried to introduce another fish into the tank but the cichlids acted aggressively toward it so I removed the fish right away. The bumblebees attacking him is the only thing i can think of. Here is a picture of the injured area. Do you think he can be saved? Or is this a fatal wound? Sorry I just really like this fish and wondered if anyone had any ideas...

 

[ODPILOT]

It could be that there is an infection and the hole is the flesh being eaten away by the bacteria or fungus. I also find it hard to believe that he was attacked in that area of his body. My guess is that the condition will be fatal as now that there is a gaping wound, more infection is likely to set it. You can try antibiotics in the sick tank, but don't be surprised if he passes away. Good luck.

 

[Plecofan21]

ok, thank you both for your help. I very much appreciate it. I'm going to the aquarium store to get him some antibiotics and hopefully it will help him.

 

[sorberj]

In the isolation tank, make sure you do frequent water changes. With a 12" pleco in 10 gallons, you're talking at least 25% twice per day (once when you get up and once when you get home). That's also your best medicine.