Yeah about my pleco... umm I just saw the smaller one laying on it's back in the tank, and on it's tail is this big red spot, and there are some smaller spots scattered on it's body.
Can somebody please tell me what is wrong and what I need to do to fix it?
Note: The bigger one appears to have no problems...
Pleco very weird, trying to die.
Hi Mickey, I found this on a website, I am sorry to hear you have a problem I cut it from the site
Sad to say, all of your problems are almost certainly bad water quality.
If your tank was mine, I would change half of the water every day and keep a ton of melafix in the tank. Changing half the water sounds like a daunting task and it is if you are just using buckets, I recommend using a python no-spill-clean-and-fill siphon if you don't already have one.
It's the easiest way to clean a large aquarium. Petsmart probably never told you about water changing, but it is the most important and most effective disease cure for all fish.
Sick fish not only have to deal with their own illness, but also with the chemicals in the medication and declining water quality due to the medication being added. All-around they are extremely stressed and most likely to give-up and succumb to it. But by doing very, very large water changes everyday, it not only helps get rid of the bacteria in the water and gravel, but also keeps the water from going to nearly toxic, sewage range. In fact, water changes may be the only thing needed to help solve the disease problem along with the addition of melafix.
Okay, here is my recommendation,
1.)Keep changing at least half or close to that of the water every day, and always replace with de-chlorinated water the same temperature that the tank is at from the tap.
2.) Add the recommended dose of melafix--it is harmless to all fish, plants, saltwater fish, and even invertrebrates and doesn't distrupt the biological bacteria like chemical medications do. Another great brand of medication that has been tested and shown to have no affects on the "good" bacteria, is Mardel. They make a wide range of very effection medication for a very wide range of fish diseases. Petsmart should have it in stock as most petstores do.
3.) Really monitor your fish, often bacterial infections lead to secondary infections in fish.
4.) You can make medicating fish much easier by setting up an additional "Hospital tank" such as a 20gallon that way you won't have so many gallons to medicate which can become very costly. But this is entirely your decision.
5.) Be sure to read the label on the medication very, very, carefully and continue to treat the fish for the medication even after the symptoms disappear, this will help kill any remainder bacteria left in the water or gravel.
Sad to say, all of your problems are almost certainly bad water quality.
If your tank was mine, I would change half of the water every day and keep a ton of melafix in the tank. Changing half the water sounds like a daunting task and it is if you are just using buckets, I recommend using a python no-spill-clean-and-fill siphon if you don't already have one.
It's the easiest way to clean a large aquarium. Petsmart probably never told you about water changing, but it is the most important and most effective disease cure for all fish.
Sick fish not only have to deal with their own illness, but also with the chemicals in the medication and declining water quality due to the medication being added. All-around they are extremely stressed and most likely to give-up and succumb to it. But by doing very, very large water changes everyday, it not only helps get rid of the bacteria in the water and gravel, but also keeps the water from going to nearly toxic, sewage range. In fact, water changes may be the only thing needed to help solve the disease problem along with the addition of melafix.
Okay, here is my recommendation,
1.)Keep changing at least half or close to that of the water every day, and always replace with de-chlorinated water the same temperature that the tank is at from the tap.
2.) Add the recommended dose of melafix--it is harmless to all fish, plants, saltwater fish, and even invertrebrates and doesn't distrupt the biological bacteria like chemical medications do. Another great brand of medication that has been tested and shown to have no affects on the "good" bacteria, is Mardel. They make a wide range of very effection medication for a very wide range of fish diseases. Petsmart should have it in stock as most petstores do.
3.) Really monitor your fish, often bacterial infections lead to secondary infections in fish.
4.) You can make medicating fish much easier by setting up an additional "Hospital tank" such as a 20gallon that way you won't have so many gallons to medicate which can become very costly. But this is entirely your decision.
5.) Be sure to read the label on the medication very, very, carefully and continue to treat the fish for the medication even after the symptoms disappear, this will help kill any remainder bacteria left in the water or gravel.
Well this is really confusing because this was just after a water change.
And also my tank is a twenty gallon.
And the water change I made was a huge one because I was riding myself of algea and snails...
So I don't understand what changing the water will do to help.
If somebody can explain that it would be great.
Thanks.
{Could a zucchinni change the water balance that badly?}
And also my tank is a twenty gallon.
And the water change I made was a huge one because I was riding myself of algea and snails...
So I don't understand what changing the water will do to help.
If somebody can explain that it would be great.
Thanks.
{Could a zucchinni change the water balance that badly?}
re:
Are the smaller ones white spot? The large red one sounds like some kind of bacterial infection. If its not being attacked by other fish (ive read that plecos can be aggressive towards eachother), it sounds like stress/poor water quality. If you havent got a test kit, i'd suggest getting one to check your water quality.
what temperature is your tank
76
I think that with the problem of snails and algae (just saw the other threads) the nitrate levels are going to be high when the water gets tested. Snails and algae are often the result of overfeeding.
If the water is bad, then a fish gets stressed and its immune system goes to poop.
My tank doesn't have that anymore...
When how long ago did you do the huge water change?
Ummm... I believe that would have been on monday
76
I think that with the problem of snails and algae (just saw the other threads) the nitrate levels are going to be high when the water gets tested. Snails and algae are often the result of overfeeding.
If the water is bad, then a fish gets stressed and its immune system goes to poop.
My tank doesn't have that anymore...
When how long ago did you do the huge water change?
Ummm... I believe that would have been on monday
What colour are the smaller spots? if they are red also it sounds this fish has a bacterial infection so bad that it maybe incurable given the circumstances.
If it helps 7 years ago I had the same experience when I introduced an unquaratined fish, it turned out when tested was a parasite which led to a very strong dose of whitespot that almost all cures I tried did not work. The fish showed the same symptoms as you describe. The parasite will attack the breathing system and cause suffocation which causes blood clots.
follow the advise get the tank water tested quick as you can,eliminate all nitrates through water changes, use products that make tapwater safe before you add the water to the aquarium and make sure the water is at the correct temperature for your livstock before you add the water.
After this discuss with your LFS about a suitable treatment for your your tank, discuss all your current stock because some react badly to medications espcially fish that do not have scales.
Because of your location I am unable to suggest treatments that me be available to you that are reccomended.
If it helps 7 years ago I had the same experience when I introduced an unquaratined fish, it turned out when tested was a parasite which led to a very strong dose of whitespot that almost all cures I tried did not work. The fish showed the same symptoms as you describe. The parasite will attack the breathing system and cause suffocation which causes blood clots.
follow the advise get the tank water tested quick as you can,eliminate all nitrates through water changes, use products that make tapwater safe before you add the water to the aquarium and make sure the water is at the correct temperature for your livstock before you add the water.
After this discuss with your LFS about a suitable treatment for your your tank, discuss all your current stock because some react badly to medications espcially fish that do not have scales.
Because of your location I am unable to suggest treatments that me be available to you that are reccomended.
Yeah I just got home to check up on my lil babies,
and I would now classify it as big mean one picking on little one.
His fin has been riped apart.. {no.. not fin rot ><}
and he is kinda missing parts of his main body...I moved him out of the other tank and he is in a new one, but as soon as I get a female that big one gets the smaller tank..
and I would now classify it as big mean one picking on little one.
His fin has been riped apart.. {no.. not fin rot ><}
and he is kinda missing parts of his main body...I moved him out of the other tank and he is in a new one, but as soon as I get a female that big one gets the smaller tank..
Mickey
I gave you sound advise based on personal experience, as did others that have contributed:
please understand IGNORANCE
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, or a willful lack of desire to improve the efficiency, merit, effectiveness or usefulness of one's actions. Ignorance is also a "state of being ignorant" or unaware (not knowing).
You took the time to ask the questions now evaluate the answers!
I gave you sound advise based on personal experience, as did others that have contributed:
please understand IGNORANCE
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, or a willful lack of desire to improve the efficiency, merit, effectiveness or usefulness of one's actions. Ignorance is also a "state of being ignorant" or unaware (not knowing).
You took the time to ask the questions now evaluate the answers!
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racoll
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Well a picture is too late because my pleco died...
And there was only one hiding spot, the rock plant holder thingy...
and I am considering just shutting down my tanks till I move out of the house because I can't put any time, energy, or money into them so they will just die...
so yeah
thanks anyways for the help
And there was only one hiding spot, the rock plant holder thingy...
and I am considering just shutting down my tanks till I move out of the house because I can't put any time, energy, or money into them so they will just die...
so yeah
thanks anyways for the help
-
MatsP
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I'm sorry to hear that you're not having much luck with the fish-keeping hobby. As I don't know that much about your personal circumstances, I can't really say what you realistically can or can't do, only you or someone that knows you well can do that. But I hope that sooner or later, you'll find a good way to enjoy keeping fish, and be successfull. It's not really that difficult most of the time, but there are times when you need to put a bit more effort in, just like with everything in life. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.Mickey wrote:Well a picture is too late because my pl*co died...
And there was only one hiding spot, the rock plant holder thingy...
and I am considering just shutting down my tanks till I move out of the house because I can't put any time, energy, or money into them so they will just die...
so yeah
thanks anyways for the help
--
Mats