Pelco Problems

fresh_sailfin

Hello A brief description of my tank. 65 gallons fresh water

PH: 7.8

ammonia: 0ppm

NO2: .5/.10 almost zero

NO3: 5.0 ppm

The tank has been running for three months now and this is the second Pelco that is iffy in health. I recently lost another simmilar fish in another tank. (6months ago). This time it is a Loo1 Pelco aprox 5 inches in lentgh. And I am hopeing on not making the same mistakes.

There has been a loss of apitite. And I know this sounds wierd but I can never get a fix on the taill. In one position it looks like something is eating a giant 1/2 cirle in it. Then when he spreads it out it seems the two tips are protruding and the "C" looks fine. But his patern is still there. It has not eat threw his markings. Does this mean he is just growing?

That was the easy one lol. He definatly has something on his mouth. White in colour 1/4 of the way around. None of my other fish ever seem affected by the same symptons.

What med would one use to treat these symptons? Have previously used Melafix (API) wich is an antibacterial fish remedy. To no avail. The other fish still died. I am sure I am over thinking this and the fish is probably ok. Any help would be great thanks.

Tommy Gun

Are you sure about this result? If so, your tank may be experiencing some larger problem and/or is not completely cycled yet.

Anyways, is there any chance that you might be able to post a picture of the half circle mark(s) and the white around the mouth?

First, it is almost always best to make a strong attempt at figuring out what problems your fish actually have- either exactly or in general -before running to the medicine aisle. I am sure that someone here can help you figure that out if you could provide very detailed information to include anything and everything you can think of and/or a photo. However, I also want to point out that....

....Melafix doesn't really pose a threat to any and every type of bacteria, fungus, parasite, etc. So, to be honest, I am not really surprised to hear that it did not work for you but should also point out that this does not mean you are treating for the wrong thing, nor does it mean your problem is completely resistant to antibiotics.

fresh_sailfin

Yes I am almost 100 percent sure of my results. The No2 was barely visible on second thought I am prety sure it is Zero. I had just feed the fish 10 / 15 min before testing. Perhaps that affected my no2? In a cycled tank one should see zero no2 right>? In any case I will Test again tonight. I am using Api Test kits (Drops) Not sure about there accuracy on the other hand. Theye definatly give me some general parameters thats for sure.

Unfortunatly I dought I will be able to post a picture. But I shall try. I really dont want to lose this fish. I shall preform a larger water change this week and hopefully that might help.

The fish In question has been recently seen swiming upside down with his tail fin on the back glass. For short periods of time then quickly "flips" over and swims normaly.

As well as when I arived home after a short trip 1 1/2 days, Carmen(L001 pelco) was sucking the glass near the top of the tank faceing down. With his tail fin almost out of the water. Just right on the edge of the water surface. Is this concidered normal behavor?

Aswell as, why are my other fish never affected by any of these conditions? I figured they would be as easly affected but the never come down with the same symptons.

Just one last thing. If I atempt to catch Carmen or clean my tank he loses all colour. Turns very pale and his markings fade to a light beige. Is this a natural defense or is he just telling me I am stressing him out? Because
I cant catch him to put him in QT to medicate, If it just going to stress him out of his scales or worse. lol Any similar experiences or help would be great thanks. Shane




I know it is a terible photo but fish do not stay still for long. I shall try and get another pick. Thanks Shane

Tommy Gun

I wouldn't think so...what did you feed them?

That would be right. I also use the same API test kit and think it is reliable enough for our purposes. If I was in your shoes, I would continue investigating that nitrite reading to see if it was a fluke or not.

Obviously my direct experiences with plecos are limited to the five or six I have kept since I got heavily interested in the hobby but I have a small pleco that will do the same thing where as my other one doesn't....although it hangs upside down on the glass, rocks and driftwood a lot; just never with its tail out of the water. So the short answer is that I don't know if it is "normal" per say, but not unheard of. I don't know if I completely understand what you mean when you say yours swims upside down and then flips over but that could be something abnormal.

I can say that it is pretty normal for a fish to become more pale when it is stressed....for example, when you chase them around with a net.

I don't know either...but my advice to you would be to quarantine this one fish as soon as you can becuase you have made at least a few descriptions that might suggest symptoms of Fish TB and what you explain about its mouth could be a bacterial infection. I probably wouldn't jump to that conclusion just yet, but a q-tank would definitely make it a lot easier for you to treat in any way you deem neccessary without having to put the rest of your fish in jeopardy. I would think that you stressing it out in order to catch it would be worth it though.

Unfortunately your photo didn't work right.

fresh_sailfin

Just regular flake fish food.

He starts at the top of the tank does a 1/2 flip. So his bell is faceing me and his dorsal fin is on the back glass then drops to the bottom and does another 1/2 flip so he is right side again. Personaly I think he is just having fun. But could that be a form of flashing/rubbing? Normaly he does not do this just happened once or twice.

Well , I shall definatly setup my QT and fill it with some medication and give him a concintrated bath for 1/2 hour tonight see if that helps. Thank you for any help much apreciated.

PS: My photo did not work? I can see it clearly! You cant see it?
No ideas here lol thanks for the heads up thoe.

pupnsuds211

i had a pleco for many many years in my 40 gal hex... years ago. i bought it when it was just a couple inches and ended trading it in at my lfs for something because it far outgrew my tank at 10+"..it was huge. i know from past experience it did quirky behavior such as you describe. It also changed colors, not often, but when it was stressed for sure. the fungus on the mouth im not sure about, but I wouldnt worry too much about the swimming against the side of the tank.

fresh_sailfin

First off, thank Tommy and pupnsuds for there information. Carmen seems to be doing beter. I cleaned the tank last night and feed her some fresh Vegies , her Apitite seems to have returned. The tail is still iffy but doing beter. Presently treating with Melafix seems to work. But It smells awful!