Dean

My Gold Nugget Pleco has a splinter on his head from a piece of driftwood. It's been sticking out of his head for 2 days. Should I try to take it (I imagine that would be pretty tough to do) out or will it work its way out? Should I add anything to the tank so it doesn't get infected?

inari

I would not advise attempting to take out the splinter. Normal bodies ingeneral with one of two things, the splinter will break off and you poor pleco will have a scar for the rest of his life or the splinter will get worked out and the wound will heal. I would advise using things like stress coat since it has aloe in it to help soothe the wound on the little and try to keep your specs releatively close to optimum but don't go doing anything drastic like huge water changes or 'normal' water changes more often. That could cause significantly more stress on your pleco. Just a piece of advise to keep in mind, generally although scaleless plecos are realitively hardy, just keep up a normal tank, maybe add the stresscoat and you'll be fine.

good luck,

Inari

SWilkins

Poor little pleco...they really get into everything don't they. Like Inari says they are really tough little guys. It will probably fall out on its own. Just add some stress coat and keep an eye on him. He will be back to normal in no time.

Regal

I think I would try to take it out so it can start to heal. It's a tough call though because I'm not sure what I would do if it broke off. In two days does it seem like its starting to work it's way out at all. He is probably trying to rub against the same driftwood to get it out which might cause more splinters. I would add stress coat to help heal the wound.

Can you post a picture?

SWilkins

How did I miss that it had been in there for two days...another DUH moment for me I guess. I would advise gloves to protect your hands, a pair of tweezers to pull out the splinter, and then some stress coat. Be careful with the net I have gotten one caught in a net before and had to cut the net to get him out. Good luck and keep us posted.

Regal

I had to do that once when I had a pleco and a molly about to give birth in the same tank. I ended up having to pick the breeding net off up the pleco's spines on his back.

I would get everything you think you might need together first. Gloves are a good idea just because plecos feel so creepy to touch. Gloves, tweezers, needle nose pliers, maybe a small towel that might help to grip the splinter, and a light right near the bucket you are going to work in. An extra pair of hands would probably be a good idea too. You can always back out if you decide once you get it in your hands that its better to leave it alone.

Dean

What a headache my Nugget has been since i got him.

Regal

Did you decide if you're going to try to operate?

Shawnie

omg dean ...such issues for you geez poor guy...I would do as sue suggested with gloves and tweezers ..you dont want to remove any slime coat or cut your hands on his needles....if you can, id actually put him back into the bucket with the small filter and bubbler so you can do partial water changes, for a few days, with stress coat after you get it out ...

aquarist48

Oh no!!!!!!!! I would like to suggest instead of using a net (should you want to remove the splinter) to use a deep pitcher something the fish will be comfortable in and large enough to get your hand in to remove the fish. I've never liked nets because I've had fish get stuck in them over the years. Wasn't pretty.
You know the plastic containers that LFS use, they hang on the tank while they are trying to get a fish...that's what I would use if it's large enough. A lot less stress on the fish IMO. Good luck and keep us posted.

Dean

I haven’t decided if I’m going to operate yet. I'll see how he's doing after work. It sticks out pretty far so I don’t think it would be too hard to pull out if I can get him settled down enough to stay still for a minute.

aquarist48

I read on another post (sorry can't remember by whom) that when you take a Pleco out of water it may make some noise. So be prepared just in case.

Dean

thanks for the heads up

inari

if you decide not to operate depending on the size of the splinter; I would try to break it off somehow so that it doesn't get caught in the or anything weird like that. Also with plecos, you will need to be very VERY patient, I remeber Sticky he would actually come over to my hand and attach himself to my wrist for some weird reason, but getting him off usually involved poking him in the nose multiple times...gently of course...before he decided to let go. anyway which ever path you choose the best of luck to you and keep us posted.

~Inari

Dean

The splinter came out by itself. No surgery needed. its a little inflamed but the Nugget seems to be fine. I put in some stress coat to help the healing. So all is well. Thanks for all you help.

Butterfly

YAY!!!! Thanks for letting us know
carol

aquarist48

So glad to hear it!

inari

that's great to hear

Lucy

I've been keeping up with this thread and am really glad to hear things worked out. (haha no pun intended)

Regal

thanks for the update, glad to know he's ok

SWilkins

Well I'm glad you didn't have to do surgery...whew. Those little buggers are hard to hang on to and if you have never been finned by one you really don't wanna go there it hurts not to mention you don't want to hurt him anymore than he has already hurt himself. Glad he is better. He is probably planning his next adventure right now as he is healing.