Sick L14

[mcaquatic]

Woke up to my 4inch L14 female breathing really heavily today. I moved her and my 8 inch male into my medium tech planted 90g about 2 weeks ago and they have been doing great. No ammonia or nitrite, about 20 ppm nitrate and 86 degrees. I run the CO2 really low on this tank since I have noticed L14 are sensitive and a Co2 dump is not possible. They have been both been eating great and more active then I have ever seen after I moved them to this tank. They get a diet of hikari sinking pellets, cut up shrimp, cut up mussels (last nights dinner) and fresh veggies. The male looks and is acting fine. The small female looks fine other wise no signs of abuse. They were previously in a 50g grow out tank that did run into a callamanus worm issue a while ago but was successfully treated with levamisole and the plecos never showed any issues of having an active infection. Any suggestions? I obviously turned the CO2 off did a 50% water change and added to air pumps. The breathing hasn't changed. I don't think this is an oxygen issue but more of an internal issue. Thanks for the input. If you guys have followed by post in the past you have probably guessed I am really into these guys and would hate to loose her. I think she was about half the size when I first bought her.

[OlePaulsen]

What pH do you have in the tank ? Maybe she got a pH shock when you moved her ?
Try to do more water change, like 30-40% daily, and turn of the co2. Put an extra airstone and diffusor on all pumps to make maximum oxygen level in the tank. And leave the light of to minimize the stress. This fish lives very deep and do not like light very well.

[Andrewjw]

Goldies, like most plecos, can be pretty aggressive. With an 8 inch fish in a tank with a 4 inch fish, i would bet there is a lot of chasing (unidirectional!). The smaller one may simply be "winded". Also, at 4 inches they are essentially impossible to sex, but I appreciate your optimism that you have a female!

[mcaquatic]

Thanks for the replies. The difference in pH is not very great and they have been there for 2 weeks so pH is not the cause. Also there is no signs of aggression between these two. They where housed together in a 50g for about a year before going into the 90g with no issues and there are tons of hiding places. I am positive the rapid breathing is not oxygen related. Normally I do two 40% water changes twice a week but have already increased it to daily. Suprisingly the fish is still alive. Definitely feels worse today

[mcaquatic]

the fish has always been a fat pleco, but now I wonder if it is bloated. Could mussels cause a carnivorous pleco to bloat? I feed them to my adults routinely, but only on occasion to these guys. This was the "last meal" before all this happened. Based on this any further suggestions? fish is still panting away, can't imagine her lasting much longer like this

[Jools]

I doubt bloat from mussels. Is there anything in the tank the fish could have gorged on (dead fish, plant/bulb?)?

Jools

[mcaquatic]

So there are no dead fish or bulbs but it is a medium tech planted tank so plenty of non bulbed plants

[tagamasid1023]

Try to post some pics to validate if its a case of bloat. Had one of my goldies behave like this for a couple of days but she eventually went back to normal without any medication. I think she could have eaten the remains of an albino BN that went missing and became so full from it.
I think you did the necessary stuff ( water changes and increased oxygen levels )already. I'm sure she'll make it. Good luck.

[mcaquatic]

still no change. will try to get a picture later. May start it on enrofloxacin tonight