nathan7294

i havent seen my pleco in a couple days and i came home today and my plecos stting on the side of the tank missing allmost his entire back fin and tail he's bleeding and i know my tiger babs did it...what can i do to prevent this i dont have any other tank to put him in

pinkfloydpuffer

What kind of pleco?
You'll need to seperate them if you know the barbs did it. This can be done with a breeder net or a tank divider.
To help the pleco, do many large water changes to keep his water clean, add garlicguard or garlic juice, stress coat, any beneficial additives you have...

Lucy

Awww poor thing. He really should be seperated to keep him from getting picked on especially now that he is injured. Keep his water pristine to prevent infection.
What kind of pleco is he? Some get really big.

nathan7294

just a regular pleco and i can do the water changes and stress caot but i dont have money for a tank divider or breeding net

pinkfloydpuffer

If you don't separate them the barbs will pester him to death in all likelihood.
Breeder nets are like 3 bucks, maybe less.

nathan7294

and i know he gets really big...im gnna get a bigger tank soon hopefully so i was thinking id put him and his biggness in the other tank with a couple smaller fish and ill prolly end up getting rid of my barbs....theyre like ciclids

nathan7294

do you just stretch the breeding nets across the tank or sumtin?

Lucy

Common plecos really should have 55g's they grow huge and have a big bio load.
I'm afraid for him. Some where on the forum are the instructions for DIY dividers or ask the store to take him back.

Edit: wow, I type slow. lol

pinkfloydpuffer

It's actually like a little box frame with a net stretched around it.

nathan7294

a breeding net would just confine him and make him uncomfortable rite? ill prolly just have to take him back and get more tiger barbs or another aggressive fish...
l

pinkfloydpuffer

I think that's probably your best course of action at this point. I'd suggest you get more tiger barbs. When kept in groups of at least 6 it cuts down on their aggression.

nathan7294

i just called the store and they said that i can take him back....

Lucy

Oh good. You did the right thing. If they're willing to take back an injured fish it sounds like they'll take good care of his injuries.

You did the right thing nathan.

nathan7294

thx but i cant find the receipt!!! idk where i put it and they wont take him back without it....

SWEET!! theyll take him back without the receipt thx for the help

cerianthus

FYI, could make DIY isolation container such as clear, clean, Plastic jar that is big enough for it to turn. Make bounch of holesusing hot screwdriver. It will be like in isolation in same water. Can even apply ointment (Bacitracin) to help if still have the fish.
Dont apply too much as water and oil dont mix well. Any excess will just fall off polluting water. Simple Daily smear will do. I usually had few of these made to use as isolation purpose and to use to trp fish in the wild.

Net breeder is not good idea since their skeletal,bony external tissues will only get tangled up w/ net and may even cause more damage/stress.

pinkfloydpuffer

The net breeder I was talking about doesn't have any way for a fish to get tangled in it.

Lucy

It's a 15g tank and a common pleco. It's best he go back since a 55g isn't an option for nathan.

nathan7294

i took him back and swapped him out for a cichlid XD i got a black convict and i think my barbs can handle him