Gold Nugget Pleco Acting Strange

mambee · Post by **mambee** » 07 Feb 2005, 01:35

I have a Gold Nugget pl*co which has been acting unusually lately. Normally he hides during the day and only comes out to feed. However, lately he has been going up and down the glass and all around the tank as if he is distressed.

Today I noticed a cluster of elliptical yellowish dots on the outside of his gill cover. I'm not sure if these are parasites or a part of his body.

The tank is a 150 gallon community and the ph is kept at 6.5, temperature is 78 degrees and nitrates are 100. I am trying to keep the nitrates down by doing large water changes twice per week.

Any suggestions/treatment?

Mike

Post by **Barbie** » 07 Feb 2005, 04:26

That definitely sounds like a parasite problem I just dealt with recently. I'd recommend removing him, adding additional aeration to the quarantine tank you put him in, temp of 84 degrees, and treat him with metronidazole (flagyl) at a dosage of 400mg/10 gallons of water. You'll need to do a 50% water change every day for the 5 days before redosing, also. Carefully vacuum the substrate. I didn't lose any fish to it, including the 2 L177 I treated. They should look quite a bit better by the 3rd day.

How are your nitrates getting to 100ppm with twice weekly water changes? I'd recommend a severe reduction in food into the tank, at this point.

Barbie

mambee · Post by **mambee** » 07 Feb 2005, 17:27

I'll check my nitrates tonight. I haven't measured them since I started twice weekly water changes.

I'm beginning to suspect that the yellow spots are normal and that I may have a flukes problem. Some of my other fish are flashing.

I have had problems with white stringy feces in the past and have treated with metronadazole. I have found that Australian Rainbowfish are especially susceptible to Hexamita.

Mike

Post by **Barbie** » 07 Feb 2005, 17:49

The gold nuggets were the first to show the parasites in my tank, but everything else was stressed. I'd definitely start treating them as soon as you can to avoid losses, if it was my tank. Most treatments for gill flukes are going to be effective on the parasites also, but they can be harsh and hard on your fish. To me the dots looked like yellow ich. Not small dots like oodinium, but definitely something that was bothering the fish and making them act abnormally. Mine appears to have been brought home on new plants I bought and didn't take the time to rinse.

Barbie

mambee · Post by **mambee** » 07 Feb 2005, 17:54

What treatment should I use? Unfortunately, it is a 150 gallon tank and other bottom dwelling fish are flashing: cories, Blockhead Cichlid, Flying Fox, so I have to dose the entire tank.

I also have scaleless fish in the tank (Clown Loaches, Black Ghost Knife) which are sensitive to medications.

Mike

mambee · Post by **mambee** » 07 Feb 2005, 17:55

Also,

Can an UV sterilizer prevent future outbreaks?

Post by **Barbie** » 07 Feb 2005, 18:03

A UV sterilizer would even constitute a treatment, IMO. I'd up the temperature to 84 and do daily water changes. Add a teaspoon of salt per gallon each day for 3 days (keep in mind you're removing 1/3 of it every day with the water changes, so yes, the concentration is climbing daily). On the 3rd day, keep an eye on the plecos, you might have to do another 30% change about 8 hours later, but usually they do just fine.

Temp and water changes didn't work for me, but I had the problem in a fully planted tank where I couldn't exactly siphon the substrate properly either. I had another tank start to show some symptoms, but no spots, so I threw on the UV sterilizer. They were fine in two days. It should help you.

Barbie

mambee · Post by **mambee** » 07 Feb 2005, 21:34

I've been considering a UV unit for a while. Is there any particular model that you recommend? Is this something that should be run constantly or only during an outbreak?

Mike

PS Are cichlid and pleco dirty words? What's up?

Post by **Barbie** » 08 Feb 2005, 01:51

Pleco is covered in the FAQ ;) Cichlid is pretty much a dig at this being a catfish board, all in good fun!

I only run a UV when I have a problem, such as parasites, or I'm clearing up an algae bloom or what not. They can be a great thing to have around to run on a quarantine tank though, IMO. Brand names will vary. I bought one that was rated for the largest tank I run, that will hang on and is somewhat portable. It really depends on what use you're going to put it to, as to which type you want to purchase, IMO.

Barbie

Nik_Boyd · Post by **Nik_Boyd** » 14 Feb 2005, 13:13

having read this thread, and other info from the internet I've decided to purchase a UV filter, and need some advice about which one to get. At some point in the next 6 months I'm upgrading from a 60lt to 400 - 450lt tank, and would prefer to only buy the one UV unit now, instead of having to get a more powerful unit when changing the tank.

would having a UV unit of say, 2000lt max flow p/h in a 60lt tank cause any problems for the inhabitants?

thanks!

Nik