Help!Whats on my L128 blue phantom ls head?

[F15CathyShark]

My L128 (her name is Blueberry) has a white patch on her head, I'm not sure she is ill or injured. I have her for about a month, I got her from Arizona Aquatic Gardens.
I'm out of town this weekend for Thanksgiving and I'm going to quarantine her just incase she is sick.
She is my first L128 and I really want her to live long.
She is eating fine (she is on fluval bug bites and Xtreme Monster)

Her tank's water
gh=60mg/l
hh=60mg/l
nitrate=5
nitrite=0
ammonia=0 to 0.5
ph=7

[MarcW]

Hi,

That's a nice looking fish, apart from the patch on it's head .

I had a similar patch on the head of one of my

L128

soon after I purchased one, I thought it was heater burn, from hiding behind the heater.

For now I would keep the water clean through regular water changes, the 0-0.5ppm Ammonia concerns me, it could be enough to cause the fish to become stressed and make the condition worse. So I would do a water change right away to get that down, then keep checking as regularly as you can, in case it gets worse, then hopefully we can make further suggestions.

I noticed you have a substrate for plants, is that new, could it be releasing some ammonia?

How long will you be away for over Thanksgiving?

Good luck.

[F15CathyShark]

Hi,

That's a nice looking fish, apart from the patch on it's head .

I had a similar patch on the head of one of my

L128

soon after I purchased one, I thought it was heater burn, from hiding behind the heater.

For now I would keep the water clean through regular water changes, the 0-0.5ppm Ammonia concerns me, it could be enough to cause the fish to become stressed and make the condition worse. So I would do a water change right away to get that down, then keep checking as regularly as you can, in case it gets worse, then hopefully we can make further suggestions.

I noticed you have a substrate for plants, is that new, could it be releasing some ammonia?

How long will you be away for over Thanksgiving?

Good luck.

Hi,MarcW

Thank you for the suggestions.

I did a 5% water change after cleaning the substrates from left overs and fish poop today and tested my ammonia level again and it's back at 0.0ppm again. I'm using Marfied Controsoil as my substrate, I have it in this tank and my old nano tank which I teared down last weekend. Blueberry ate some food tonight, and her patch seem to be smaller then this morning.
(took during cleaning)
I also moved my heater up so she can't hid under it. My quarantine tank is a 10gal(38L) square tank runing on fluval HOB filter .

I will gone for thankgiving for 5 days, and I have a auto-freeder setted up for them.

[MarcW]

Thanks for the extra pictures, the patch does seem to be smaller.

I've not heard of that substrate but it looked similar to ADA Aquasoil which I know can release small amounts of Ammonia into the water especially when it is new.

I would add some sort of cave, tunnel, or rock work that the fish can hide under, it may stop it trying to hide near the heater.

It looks like a good sized fish, for a trip of 5 days I wouldn't worry about feeding it. I would worry that the water conditions may deteriorate if uneaten food breaks down, or the auto feeder malfunctions, which could cause the injury to become worse if you aren't there to keep on top of things.

Once you are back I would try to target ~50% water changes every week, that is what I do for all of my tanks, however you may find that 30-40% weekly works for you, but the 5% change you mentioned is not enough to keep the conditions good long term.

Good luck and enjoy Thanksgiving.

[Jobro]

Are you using CO2 in this tank? Please make sure to turn it off during night, thanks.

just like Marc, I would not be too keen on using the auto feeder. At least make sure it rather underfeeds than overfeeds. Like only 1/2 or 1/3 the amount of what you would feed when you were there.

I agree the fish need hiding/shelter places. The wound does look a little like it came from the heater. I would not be too concerned about that wound. Plecos have strong self healing abilities as long as the water is good and they don't suffer from stress or too little O2 / too much CO2.

[Linus_Cello]

I’d also keep the tank dark and add extra aeration while you are away.

[F15CathyShark]

Are you using CO2 in this tank? Please make sure to turn it off during night, thanks.

just like Marc, I would not be too keen on using the auto feeder. At least make sure it rather underfeeds than overfeeds. Like only 1/2 or 1/3 the amount of what you would feed when you were there.

I agree the fish need hiding/shelter places. The wound does look a little like it came from the heater. I would not be too concerned about that wound. Plecos have strong self healing abilities as long as the water is good and they don't suffer from stress or too little O2 / too much CO2.

Thank you, Jobro
I do have C02 for this tank but they are only on for 3 hours every morning.

I’d also keep the tank dark and add extra aeration while you are away.

Will do !
I actually do this to most of tanks when I'm gone

Thanks for the extra pictures, the patch does seem to be smaller.

I've not heard of that substrate but it looked similar to ADA Aquasoil which I know can release small amounts of Ammonia into the water especially when it is new.

I would add some sort of cave, tunnel, or rock work that the fish can hide under, it may stop it trying to hide near the heater.

It looks like a good sized fish, for a trip of 5 days I wouldn't worry about feeding it. I would worry that the water conditions may deteriorate if uneaten food breaks down, or the auto feeder malfunctions, which could cause the injury to become worse if you aren't there to keep on top of things.

Once you are back I would try to target ~50% water changes every week, that is what I do for all of my tanks, however you may find that 30-40% weekly works for you, but the 5% change you mentioned is not enough to keep the conditions good long term.

Good luck and enjoy Thanksgiving.

Thanks again, Marc
I'm planning to made some holes myself, I usually do 5% every 3 days in this tank and 50% every 2 weeks , I totally will try to do a 40~50 in after I'm back.

[Thomas1209]

I have had similar issues with Rineloricaria parva before, far worse. I wouldn't worry too much, feed her little during the upcoming days and keep up on your water changes. Maybe you can lower the temperature a little bit during the time you're gone? This might slow down the process in case it does get worse.

[F15CathyShark]

Blueberry is doing well right now, her patch is almost all healed up! Thank you everyone for the help !
I'm planning to set up a 65 gal(246 L) for her(thinking about a ADA 90H) when I move to San Francisco in the next 2 years

[MarcW]

Excellent, looking much better!

We'd be interested to know how the new tank setup goes in future, good luck.

[Jobro]

Check your woods/roots. They seem to be heavily fungused...

[F15CathyShark]

Check your woods/roots. They seem to be heavily fungused...

I'm actually not sure about what on them, I thought it's biofilm.....

[Fundulopanchax76]

These fish really like water current ! Think about this too.

[catfishchaos]

Check your woods/roots. They seem to be heavily fungused...

I'm actually not sure about what on them, I thought it's biofilm.....

It is a fungus of sorts but it was my understanding that its harmless and that it goes away eventually as the fish cleaning it up (to no ill effect).