bn pleco with distended belly

[Jillrb]

Hi, I'm new here. I was referred by someone on another aquarium site.

Issue: bn pleco lethargic, not eating and has a very distended belly. This has been going on for about 5 days.

History:
55gal, cycled in feb before adding fish.
Contains 6 julii cories, 4 platys, 1 gbr, 6 harlequin rasbora and the bn pleco.
Gravel substrate, live and silk plants, 2 aqueon 30 hob filters
79 degrees

Weekly 20% water changes, but have been doing daily 50% water changes the last 5 days to see if that would help my pleco, no luck though.

I use Omega One veggie rounds and feed peas weekly. He hasn't pooped or eaten for 4-5 days, belly is very round/bloated looking. He pretty much stays in one spot the last few days.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on what might be wrong and how to help him.

Thanks!
Jill

[fishdoc]

Have you tested water quality recently? That could give you a better idea of what's going on....

You could try giving epsom salts a shot if he really hasn't defecated in awhile (How do you know this? I'm picturing you watching this fish 24/7 to see if it poops--haha).

[FishnFins]

I don't know what to do hopefully someone else can help. Never treat scaleless fish such as plecos with salt.

[fishdoc]

I don't know what to do hopefully someone else can help. Never treat scaleless fish such as plecos with salt.

These fish can absolutely be treated with salt.

[Juiceyfish]

Treat with salt yeas a good rounded table spoon per 20 gallon ( just my safe guideline ) and if the fish won't eat I suggest water changes and get some repashy spawn and grow .... It's good you make from hog water and te power toake a gel it is used to condition fish for breeding and also no fish can resist it even when you see sunken in stomachs they will fill
Right up on this ... Guarenteed it's worked wonders for me when I get fish shipped!

[Juiceyfish]

And use aquarium salt not Epsom salt

[fishdoc]

And use aquarium salt not Epsom salt

Aquarium salt (sodium chloride) is a good choice when treating fish for external parasites. If this fish is truly not defecating, epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) are something that can be used to get everything moving; these are usually done as a dip (minutes). I can't remember the recommended dose offhand.

[pitbull13]

One you get him eating feed him Zucchini it clea4s out my plecs systems within an hour.