I have a common pleco in a 125g long aquarium. The aquarium has been set up and running for about 7 months now and I noticed a couple days ago that the pleco has a large rotten looking spot on his belly. It almost looks like his flesh is being eaten away. I recently treated for algae and so I left the carbon and bio wheels out of the canister filter for a couple days. Does anybody know what may be causing it and if possible, how to treat it?
Pleco Stomach Rotten :(
- Thread starter aminks02
- Start date
I'm sorry to hear about your pleco. In order to help you out though, we'll need a bit more information and pictures if possible. If you wouldn't mind filling out the short version of the diagnostics form at http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180877 that would really help get the suggestions flowing.
OH wow! Possibly an internal parasite has eaten through the stomach wall or a severe infection? I'm not sure, but I really hope someone can help your pleco.
Any idea how long it's been like that? I assume the fish gets in that up-against-the-front-glass position fairly regularly, so as best you can recall how long has it been since you saw his tummy and it was unremarkable?
second question: what sort of substrate do you have? That hole doesn't look puncture related (although it might have started out that way) so much as it looks eroded.
The solid rim around it makes it almost look like he grew another mouth more conventiently located to the food's destination spot. Any chance you could get a flashlight on it and estimate how deeply into the body the cavity goes?
and you're right, the fish does look perfectly healthy except for that. Very weird.
Oh, and what other stock is in the tank, and what sort of decor? I see the big rounded rock, which I suppose he could have rubbed up against while feeding, but any other rocks or wood he might have hurt himself on?
Hope Mel20_20 gets a chance to take a look at this one, she's our resident expert on freshwater diagnosis and treatment. Best wishes to your fish at any rate.
second question: what sort of substrate do you have? That hole doesn't look puncture related (although it might have started out that way) so much as it looks eroded.
The solid rim around it makes it almost look like he grew another mouth more conventiently located to the food's destination spot. Any chance you could get a flashlight on it and estimate how deeply into the body the cavity goes?
and you're right, the fish does look perfectly healthy except for that. Very weird.
Oh, and what other stock is in the tank, and what sort of decor? I see the big rounded rock, which I suppose he could have rubbed up against while feeding, but any other rocks or wood he might have hurt himself on?
Hope Mel20_20 gets a chance to take a look at this one, she's our resident expert on freshwater diagnosis and treatment. Best wishes to your fish at any rate.