Some fuzzy stuff on my pleco...

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BigAlFromCal

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Apr 23, 2006
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OK, tested today (three weeks in) and got my first noticable ammonia levels. Started hitting .5 early in the week and hit 1 today. I did a 10% water change. In doing so, I was vacuuming the gravel and noticed some whitish (not brown) fluffy mess coming up. I believe it's from a couple uneaten algae tablets my pleco has missed over the week. Then we saw him. He has the same fluffy, almost fuzzy stuff on him! Not little white spots. Two patches of fuzzy. They weren't there last night.
So, any ideas of what could be on my pleco? The gouramis have nothing, no spots, bright colors, no change in behavior. The pleco is acting normal.
Vacuuming didn't bring up a lot of other stuff, the gravel looks real good, actually.
I'm really kinda worried as I've grown attached to the little guy.
 
Well...I would have done more than a 10% change. ANY ammonia is bad for the fish.

For the pleco, it sounds like a fungus probably related to your water. I would buy some Pimafix and treat the tank with that.
 
I'll continue doing 10% changes daily. I added the pimafix you suggested. Any ideas as to how this happened? I'd like to try and avoid it, if possible! He seems ok for now, eating and swimming around. Any thoughts on outcomes?
 
BigAlFromCal said:
I'll continue doing 10% changes daily. I added the pimafix you suggested. Any ideas as to how this happened? I'd like to try and avoid it, if possible! He seems ok for now, eating and swimming around. Any thoughts on outcomes?
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My guess would be stress on the fish. When fish are stressed it weakens them and illness and disease can take hold. Cycling a tank with fish in it is extremely stressful to them. Any ammonia or nitrites in the water is also another stress factor.

As for the outcome. If you can get your water quality in better condition and keep treating with the Pimafix he has a chance. Especially if he is still eating. With fish it's always hard to tell though who will pull thru and who won't.

Good luck!
 
If you just started seeing ammonia, your tank is just starting its cycle. 10% water changes might not be enough to keep your ammonia levels low. If .5ppm is causing fungal reactions, aim for .25 ppm and 25% daily water changes.

Be sure to decholorinate during water changes.

As said above, Pimafix + Melafix is a good combo.... and shouldn't affect your cycle.


Good luck!
 
Thanks for the replies and ideas!

Luckily, my girlfriend had some Pimafix and Melafix already here. (Her's is the 55g in my sig) My plec is doing amazingly better, but I realize he's not out of the woods yet. Most of the fungus on him is disappearing! I vacuumed again and added five more plants (had to, they came in UPS) and things are going very well.

OK, so how long till the next step in the cycle takes hold and the ammonia starts to drop?
 
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