christina

I am extremley new to the world of freshwater fish tanks, and so far I am finding it fascinating! My question is that I think I may have a sick pleco and I would love a little help in determining if it is and what I need to do to help it.

I noticed about a week ago that there was a sort of greyish spot starting on it's back next to it's dorsal fin, but it seemed to have cleared up. I was just really sick for the last three days and had my husband feeding the fish, so I wasn't looking at them. I looked at my pleco today and this coloration is now pretty much all over him. None of my other fish have it on them though. I have read the article on here about fish fungus, and I was just wondering if it might be that.... or something else

Any thoughts and help is appreciated!! Thanks

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

I see a couple problems that are causing his troubles:

1) The tank is VERY overstocked. The guideline is 1" (adult size) for small fish and a lot more for Plecos (they produce a heavy amount of waste) and other large fish, like your sharks and jack dempsey (who can get pretty aggressive with those other fish). The only fish that would fit in that tank are the Cory Cats, actually. I'm not sure on the pleco - I'd have to look at his pic and determine which species he is.

2) The tank is cycling. Plecos are more sensitive to water conditions and I'd recommend Prime for treating your tap water.

Do you have a picture that you can post of him? It does sound like fungus and Rid-Fungus would be the first thing I'd try for him. If the store will take them, I'd definitely return the JD and the sharks. They'd need a tank of 90g or more at the minimum.

susitna-flower

Christina, HI AND WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

You get the dancing pickle, because my daughter's name is Christina.

Pleco's are scaleless fish, they are more susceptible to bad water conditions much like loaches and other catfish....

I would like to point out, without hitting you over the head, that your tank is heavily overcrowded....The fish you have together are not suitable tank mates, and need a MUCH larger tank to stay healthy. It sounds like your pleco has "body Fungus" it is described as grayish-white stringy material covering most of the body, white or grey patches. It is also called columinaris.....it is not a true fungus, but a bacterial infection. You need to quarantine this fish and treat it with maracyn.

I am not an expert, but this is my best guess.

Are you doing water changes? With the crowded conditions you have you should be changing 50% every day.....until you get a bigger tank.

To give you a better idea of how large a tank you need please research each fish you have in the Freshwater fish Profiles section up at the top of this page under "ARTICLES"...that way you will know it isn't just coming from me....

Several of your fish fall into the really BIG fish category that you have to count in the 1 cubic inch of adult size fish per gallon rule. Big fish produce big waste, but we recommend to people to buy the tank the size they WILL GROW TO, instead of buying fish small, and planning to get a bigger tank when they grow big....problem with this is that unless you are ready right off the bat to upgrade to a bigger tank, your fish will be stunted, and never be the healthy fish it could have been.

Good Luck, and hope your pleco recovers.....don't be discouraged, we all go through these same issues....That's why we ALL have MTS.....Multiple Tank Syndrome...