L260 assistance required

PhilipAsh · Post by **PhilipAsh** » 27 Aug 2003, 20:31

Hi all,

I have these two L260's. They have been living on their own in a 30" tank with lots of bogwood and caves for about 3 months.

Can i ask your opinions on the sex of each please? (I believed them to be males)

One is clearly MUCH fatter than they other. It has been this way for as long as I have had them. I have tried different type of diet, lack of food and even treatments to clear this. It just doesnt get any slimmer. Hence my question to make sure I don't actually have a female.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipash/fish1a.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipash/fish1b.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipash/fish2a.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipash/fish2b.jpg

Many thanks

Phil.

Post by **Janne** » 27 Aug 2003, 20:43

You have two males, how long time have the fat one being in this condition.
Have serious problem with his stomach, probebly a bacterial infection.

Janne

PhilipAsh · Post by **PhilipAsh** » 27 Aug 2003, 20:53

Janne,

Well over 5 months now. He shows no signs of any discomfort, or unusual behaviour.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Phil.

Post by **Janne** » 28 Aug 2003, 18:21

5 month...honestly...no idea.
In this shape they usualy not live long but in your case I really dont know what it can be but, maybe someone else can give you some advise.
He act and eating normal? produce waste...? Maybe some physical changes in his stomach, only a guess.

Janne

STINGRAY · Post by **STINGRAY** » 28 Aug 2003, 21:38

Hi we have encountered this problem on l264 cats on several occasions. The fish do usually perish very quickly if action is not taken. It maybe an infection but I think the fish would have perished a long time ago. The fish may have a tumour, it could be a dropsy like fluid retention problem. Are there any smells coming from the tank when you do any cleaning? regds darren.

PhilipAsh · Post by **PhilipAsh** » 28 Aug 2003, 22:40

Hi guys,

He eats OK, produces waste OK.

No strange smells at all. Very weird.
The other fish is obviously OK.

Could it just be a fat fish? lol

Phil.

Post by **Barbie** » 29 Aug 2003, 07:21

I'd say he could definitely just be a fat fish. Is he active? Maybe skip a few meals and see how he does, or even cut his current rations in half for a few weeks. If they are both males anyway, its not like you're working on conditioning them for spawning, and a light fast won't hurt them, especially not with that kind of blubber layer to work through, hehe. Sorry I'm not more help, but that's what I'd do

Barbie

PhilipAsh · Post by **PhilipAsh** » 29 Aug 2003, 14:18

Thanks for the replies.

Yes he is just as active.

Maybe chubby is the dominant male and just pinching all the food.
I am going to auction the healthy male at our next club auction (Sept 28 - pm me for details) , and then I will be able to put him on a diet.

Anyone have a treadmill for fish ?

Phil.

Post by **Barbie** » 30 Aug 2003, 00:08

LOL! Now there's an idea! I've seen the ones they build for dogs and thought they were bad enough, hehe. You could just sit him in a basket in front of a powerhead if he didn't have that sucker mouth to hang on with. Dang, now I'm going to have to think about this more

Barbie

Chill · Post by **Chill** » 30 Aug 2003, 00:21

I have a male L-102 that would make your pleco look thin

He is simply VERY well conditioned