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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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Pleco Ick???
I have 2 plecos, and I think they may have ick, but I am not sure if this is the case. Does anyone have any tips on what i should look for? It would be really helpful if someone could send me a picture of a common pleco with ick. Thanks!
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January 28th, 2008
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Moderator
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It would be better if you could post a pic of your Plecs 
ICH looks like grains of salt. If you suspect ICH raise your temperature up 82-84F leave it for 14 days and do frequent water changes.
Carol |
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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I've raised the water temp up to that level 3-4 days ago, added an air-stone, changed the water 2 days ago, and I am planning to do a partial change in just a few minutes. I have been looking at pictures of other fish with ick and mine don't seem to look like that.
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January 28th, 2008
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Moderator
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Are they acting sick or just look different to you ? Plecs display different color patterns at time and still be ok. I would definitely keep up the water changes for a few days though.
Carol
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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Honestly I don't think plecos get ich (of coarse I could be completly 100 percent wrong too).. when my tank was broke out my pleco never got it and the tank had 2 break outs in a month... 1st time treated w/ meds 2nd w/ high temps and salt....
the pleco never caught it or got sick.. hes still healthy and happy... (hes a common pleco)
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January 28th, 2008
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Moderator
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveangela1
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I don't know of any fish that cannot catch ICH in the right (or is it wrong) circumstances. Plecs are very sensitive to medications and I know the heat and water changes work
Carol |
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveangela1
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 I checked this site out and it is good, as far as it goes. However it doesn't tell about treatment with heat. I'm with carol, ick will be killed with prolonged exposure to temperatures between 82-84 F. I think the pictures, though, and the description of the ick life cycle are great..... |
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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David,
It would also be helpful if we knew a little more about our fish, and tank.
Ick usually will attack fish that are stressed, this is why I bring this issue up.
Are your pleco's both common plecos? Common plecos grow too large for a 55 gallon tank....
Do you have any other fish in your 55 gal tank?
Is your tank cycled?
How long has it been set up, and do you do water tests? If so please share the results for:
Ammonia?
Nitrite?
NItrate?
Along with raising the temp you can use medications, but be really careful because many are hard on plecos...follow the directions...
Also, what has your water change schedule been?
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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Alright, here goes nothing: my plecos are, as far as I can tell, common plecos. My tank has been set up for about 5 years now, but I went out of town over the Christmas holiday, my girlfriend, I do love her very much, overfed the tank, a lot, so I had to do a couple 50% water changes, and completely change the gravel (lots of stress and probably a bit of a chill as well). This was nearly a month ago. The tank has completely re-cycled, and the ammonia and nitrite levels are normal, but the nitrate levels are still a bit high as well as the ph, probably due to the gravel change. (I should explain that I inherited the tank from my mom 8 months ago when she moved across the country, so the aforementioned overfeeding and subsequent water change were my first big problems. I have since done a lot of research into aquarium maintenance and have learned that I should not have cleaned the gravel except with tank water). Right now I have a wonderful community in the tank, and my plecos have been the size they are now for about two years or so. Finally, my change schedule, as I didn't really know much about aquarium maintenance until the past month, was very poor, but I have seen the error in my ways and have been doing a 25% change every week-and-a-half now.
The plecos were a much lighter color and seemed to be very lethargic, but their breathing was faster than I have seen. then, today, after I sent the first message, they seemed to start acting quite normal again, almost as if nothing had happened. I see some, what look like air bubbles, but they may be just that. None of the other fish in the tank seem to be having any problems, and they seem to be thriving in the higher temps. I had a couple of Black Skirt tetras lapping at the surface after I turned the heat up, but I put an additional air-stone in the tank to get more aeration, and they stopped staying at the surface almost immediately. Does it sound like I am doing the right stuff so far  If anyone has questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions I am more beyond grateful for the input. Thanks again! |
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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 No hassel here, I am just glad you are asking for help.
#1 Gravel should be vacuumed every week.
#2 Start looking on craigs list for a tank big enough for those bad boys. COMMON PLECOs, even if they have been in a 55 get WAY too big for that size tank. Your water changes should be like 50% every week to twice a week depending on your nitrate readings....If they are as high as 20 your fish are stressing..and will be subject to parasites, fungus or bacterial infections.
#3 Give in, you love them, and MTS is only one tank away!  |
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January 28th, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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I already have MTS on a very small scale: I have a fully outfitted beta tank with a couple of Neons and an otto in the other room. I very much plan to have a bigger tank eventually, but right now I am in a small, and I do mean small, apartment: my 55 gal tank takes up almost a whole wall, but i WILL be getting a much larger tank in a year or two when I move into a larger place, I need a bigger tank for myself too, ya know? I will definatly be upping my change rate though. do you reccomend 50% all at once or a 25% change every other day?
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January 28th, 2008
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Moderator
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I would do 25% about every other day until the 14 days are up and you can lower your temperature back down to about 78F. Warm water holds less oxygen. Then when treatment time is up 50% each week should be maintained. If you had rather do 25% x2 each week that would be fine also. Plecs of all sizes and species are huge waste producers and so need their tank substrate vacuumed weekly but only vacuum 1/2 at a water change. When you clean your filter media rinse it in used tank water to maintain your beneficial bacteria, and to get rid of the sludge Hope that helps. Let us know how we can help
Carol |
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January 30th, 2008
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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I think the common plecos are probably less happy at the warmer temps than your other fish, but shouldn't be harmed by it. How old & big are yours? How often do you give them veggie slices?
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January 30th, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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Veggie slices I guess this is another question I have had lately... My mom (who gave me the tank) has only ever given the fish "standard" fish food. I have heard something lately about giving them fresh food, but I've been looking for more info before I start doing anything, that way I can make sure I'm doing it right. I would covet any input on this. Also, would this be good for my clown loaches? (yeah, I know I need to get a much bigger tank for those guys too, but as I said this one is inherited, and I now know that it is stocked with fish that will get very big, but I don't have any place to put a big tank, so please don't beat me up  :. Where I am living now is only temporary, and I promise I will upgrade my tank as soon as I have a place big enough to accommodate it. I know I have a couple more years before my clowns start to outgrow the tank they're in, as they have grown very slow, I have had one for 4 years and the others for 2, so they have some time to grow... I want to stress I am taking their potential size into account, but I am a poor college student). Anyway, about my plecos, they're 4 and 5 inches-ish, maybe a bit smaller. |
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January 31st, 2008
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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They like slices of vegetables, but if they're not organic, I'd recommend peeling the skins off before slicing the vegetable.
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January 31st, 2008
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Fish Newbie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly
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After I asked about it, I found this thread. Very cool! Thanks again for all the help on this one. My Plecs seem to be feeling much better, but I will continue to keep my temps a bit higher and change the water for another week or so, just to be sure, and then I will get myself into a routine of good tank hygiene. |
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