Urgent Help Needed!!! Sick Pleco!!!

Someone else on this forum (sorry that I can't remember who) described it best: Melafix and Pimafix are like the chicken soup and orange juice of fish medicine. They'll make your fish feel better, and they have some medicinal properties, but it's nothing like dosing with a proper antibiotic.

I think your best bet would be to stop with Pimafix and Melafix right now, and use a proper broad-spectrum antibiotic like the previously suggested Maracyn 2.
 
:iagree: And stop dosing two different kinds of water conditioner. They are made by two different manufacturers, are not designed to be used together and serve no purpose being used together, and may actually be slowly hurting your fish. Choose one or the other and stick with it. Only dose according to the bottle directions. No need to overdose, both of those products work quickly and well. I personally use the Novaqua+ in all my tanks, including my pleco tanks.
 
NegativeLogic said:
Someone else on this forum (sorry that I can't remember who) described it best: Melafix and Pimafix are like the chicken soup and orange juice of fish medicine. They'll make your fish feel better, and they have some medicinal properties, but it's nothing like dosing with a proper antibiotic.

I think your best bet would be to stop with Pimafix and Melafix right now, and use a proper broad-spectrum antibiotic like the previously suggested Maracyn 2.
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I agree with this as well, and add in the driftwood. If you can get some mopani, my gibbiceps (which I think is what you have) tends to prefer it, although he has rasped on several different types of driftwood that I've had in his tank. Additionally, what are you feeding your pleco? Try putting in a piece of zucchinni, or broccoli. If it's plugged up then the roughage (particularly from broccoli) will help out. If the veggies aren't touched after two days, take them out.

The white cottony stuff you're finding in the tank is probably the slime coat from the fish. Large plecos like Pterygoplycthis gibbiceps and Hypostemos plecostomus can literally blow off their slime coat in the tank when stressed due to infection, water change, or just anything in general (mine did it once when I moved too much decor around at once, of all things). The slime coat is thick enough that it tends to stay together and form this sort of cottony/whispy thing that floats around the tank.
 
pinkertd said:
:iagree: And stop dosing two different kinds of water conditioner. They are made by two different manufacturers, are not designed to be used together and serve no purpose being used together, and may actually be slowly hurting your fish. Choose one or the other and stick with it. Only dose according to the bottle directions. No need to overdose, both of those products work quickly and well. I personally use the Novaqua+ in all my tanks, including my pleco tanks.
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Actually, I guess the reason I did it someone had recommended the Amquel+ and I accidentally got the Novaqua+ instead, but when I read online that they sell them together and that Novaqua+ helps protect against bacteria and such I thought it might help him, so I also got the Amquel+ and used both.....this is what the Kordon website said, but I guess they are advising it mostly for new tanks... = )

http://www.novalek.com/kordon/articles/about_water_conditioners.htm
Fundamentally, there are two Kordon products to use that together cover the full range of water conditions coming from tap water; these are Kordon NovAqua+ (particularly to handle the toxic metals in the water, and protect the fishes from viruses and bacteria), and Kordon Amquel+ particularly to take out the chloramines, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and other toxic organics). These products are packaged separately to preserve long-term their integrity before use. If new fish are being introduced at this time, see the section below on "...New Fish Introductions". If only chloramines (chlorine and ammonia) are the issue, then the less expensive Kordon AmQuel can be used instead of AmQuel+..
 
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It seems that the only reason they are in separate bottles is to preserve shelf life. So yes, they are made to be used together.

Plecos are not overly active but not eating or pooping is far from normal. Water quality can be a real issue with them. As they age they also have been known to change dietary likes and dislikes. Your tank is quite small for a fish with the ability to get to 20". It is possible that stunting is occurring. There have been many good suggestions to try in addition to larger or more frequent water changes.
 
I have a few questions. First, let me say thank you to everyone that has taken time to offer help...it is appreciated more than you know!!! I have done melafix and pimafix for two days now. This morning he is sucking himself to the sides of the tank up high and mid tank upright and upside down and swimming a bit to get to other places (he's not done this since he's been ill!) - please tell me this is a good sign!!!

1. I did see mopani wood at the store and wondered about it. Do I have to boil it or anything first?

2. Can I start giving him the maracyn two today or should I wait a day. Should I do a water change before I give him the antibiotics?

3. Should I lower the temp? If so, to what degree?

I did offer zucchini and a couple peas on Tuesday, but he did not eat it. I put 1 small wafer in last night and don't see any of it, but it may have disintegrated into the rocks, so I will vacuum today. I won't give him the wafers now unless I know he's eating - I'll just offer him the veggies and such so the can be easily removed.
 
Go ahead and boil any driftwood you put in the tank. Again, they aren't really picky about the type, just so long as it isn't something toxic. Watch for poo since that's a good sign of health (mine just put a garland all the way across my 55 last night). You can do a wafer if that's what the fish is eating, just try mixing it up a bit too.
I would go ahead and do the water change as soon as you can, and then start the Maracyn II regimen. The temp seemed fine to me. My gibbiceps lives (and grows) happily at 74-75 degrees.
 
One other thing too....when treating with antibiotics, make sure to watch your water parameters, sometimes you can induce a mini-cycle since the antibiotics can make life rough for some of the beneficial bacteria in your tank.
 
Sorry for all the questions...I just want to do the right thing for him... should I add a product like "Cycle" when doing water changes (to make sure good bac is in there)vand do I do water changes while giving him the antibiotics? Thanks again everyone!!!
 
Don't worry about adding anything like that to your tank right now, just keep an eye on it and do regular water changes. In my experience the fewer things that you add to the tank the better. If you do water changes while treating with antibiotics, remember that you'll need to add extra in order to maintain the dosage (unless the specific antibiotic is already dosed for it). Maracyn II is a 5 day course so I wouldn't worry about water changes unless you start seeing your nitrates get above 40.

Oh, and don't apologize for the questions, that's how we all learn. I've posted my share of "sick fish" threads here before, and because of those questions, I now have several fish that are alive that wouldn't have been before, and I have fish that haven't gotten sick because of things I learned here.
 
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