Bn Pleco Rescue Attempt - Need Tips

On our weekly LFS visit I was talking about long fin BN pleco because of Kings thread and the store had one emaciated one he threw in with our purchase so I could attempt to give him a chance.

How do I give this my best attempt so he has the best chance?

 

Get him in the BIGGEST tank/tub you have available. If you have a 30 gallon tub, or a even bigger tank, that would be best.

Add a variety of foods. Algae Wafers, Or any other kind of sinking pellets will work. Also add some veggies. (You can go on the internet and find out what kind of veggies they like, and how to prepare them)

Keep very, very clean water. I would do a 40 percent water change daily in whatever tank you decide to keep him in. You should try to keep it 0,0,0 parameters.


Try to keep the stress levels down. Leave the lights off.

Try to give him a substrate (sand) to keep him busy and happy.

Great job saving him! Remember, sometimes they just can't recover from the abuse they previously suffered. Don’t beat yourself up if he doesn’t make it. If you follow the steps above, you will give him the best chance of survival!

 

Currently in an established 29 gallon where everyone is generally peaceful and leaving the baby alone so far.

(Eventually it'll be a 40 breeder when I find a good enough deal)

There is sand, driftwood and some brown algae, I also dropped in a wafer. And ill pick up some veggies tomorrow!

Thank you for your reply! I will keep doing large water changes for the next week or so until I hopefully see some improvement!

-my original plan was to wait for the 40gal and really search for a beautiful golden BN with blue eyes like one of the users here bred. But I couldn't not give this baby a shot at life, fingers crossed!!!!!

This wasn't well thought out I couldn't use my QT because I don't trust the krib in qt to not pick on this tiny BN.





I have live plants so I'll see what I can do about lowering the stress to give the best chance

 

Survived night one so that's a small victory!

Happily sucking on the glass this morning, trying not to get my hopes up but I sure hope this tiny guy makes a come back





What are good/bad signs or like milestones (time?) I should be looking for?

 

Watch for missing scales, or cotton. Also missing pieces of tail.

He should hopefully open up a little more, so a good milestone would be him, coming up the glass with light on, and not being scared.

Try to get some veggies, if he eats those, great!

Their natural instinct is scavenging, so hopefully he spend maybe 70 percent of his day cleaning your tank, while looking for food. (The other 30 percent is staying still/sleeping)

Fish breath fast, but watch for really fast breathing, and very slow.

Look for any irritation (red areas) on his body. Some decorations are suitable for bottom feeders, and you might have one.

Good luck with the little guy! Keep up with the water changes, and keep us posted!

 

The pics are not the clearest...so I could be wrong....but he doesn't really look that bad. He doesn't necessarily look emaciated to me in those photos. He's just a little baby. And long fins always have skinner bodies than standard fins....

Unless there is something I am missing, I think the little guy will be just fine. As long as no one picks on him.

 

On our weekly LFS visit I was talking about long fin BN pleco because of Kings thread and the store had one emaciated one he threw in with our purchase so I could attempt to give him a chance.

How do I give this my best attempt so he has the best chance?

I have an albino pleco and he LOVES cucumber and peas!!!

 

No, he looks fine to me as well. The belly looks good, too, and not caved in.

 

The pics are not the clearest...so I could be wrong....but he doesn't really look that bad. He doesn't necessarily look emaciated to me in those photos. He's just a little baby. And long fins always have skinner bodies than standard fins....

Unless there is something I am missing, I think the little guy will be just fine. As long as no one picks on him.

Oh! I was so hoping you'd chime in but couldn't remember how to tag on this forum.

Compared to others in the same batch this guy was very skinny, ill try to get a better picture, he's just so white my phone hasn't been capturing it that well!

 

Oh! I was so hoping you'd chime in but couldn't remember how to tag on this forum.

Compared to others in the same batch this guy was very skinny, ill try to get a better picture, he's just so white my phone hasn't been capturing it that well!

Were they all long fins?

Some are just runts. Admittedly the runts don't always thrive....but I wouldn't call him emaciated.

 

I've taken in skinnier BN plecs and they turned out just fine. You little BN might of missed a meal or two but if it was really emaciated the belly would be completely caved. It's always good to provide food 24/7 for little plecos, so boil some zucchinI and sink it for him/her. Remove uneaten food and add fresh stuff in the morning.

 

Were they all long fins?

Some are just runts. Admittedly the runts don't always thrive....but I wouldn't call him emaciated.

Yes, but that would be GREAT news! Next time he picks a place a little more out in the open I'll take/post a picture of his top side just to be sure!

 

Yes, but that would be GREAT news! Next time he picks a place a little more out in the open I'll take/post a picture of his top side just to be sure!

Really its the belly itself that tells you if the fish is starving or not. A pic of his top side wouldn't tell us much. Yes, the guy is skinny width-wise, but his belly doesn't look sunk-in.

 

You have to get them onto veg. A tank can't provide enough algae and I don't think pellets are a balanced diet. Mine gets pellet twice a week. The rest of the time it's courgette/zucchini. Their guts have to keep moving.
But sometimes they just won't eat veg and I don't know why. I lost three that way. My fourth one is very hearty but she was already a good size when I got her. The LFS had bred her. They breed seahorses so they know what they're doing!

 

So all looks well after all? Well I probably would have made a more intentional selection had I known, but I couldn't have gone home knowing I didn't try to help who we thought was an emaciated fish, especially a free one lol


(I leave a little algae on the back for my shrimp and snail who like it since you can't see it from the front)





Also I put some peas in this morning to see if anyone will eat them

 

If it helps....her are some pics of a couple of my healthy long fin juvies....pretty skinny looking don't you think? Especially next to a standard.

 

So all looks well after all? Well I probably would have made a more intentional selection had I known, but I couldn't have gone home knowing I didn't try to help who we thought was an emaciated fish, especially a free one lol


(I leave a little algae on the back for my shrimp and snail who like it since you can't see it from the front)
View attachment 471827View attachment 471828


Also I put some peas in this morning to see if anyone will eat them

Sounds beautiful!

 

If it helps....her are some pics of a couple of my healthy long fin juvies....pretty skinny looking don't you think? Especially next to a standard. View attachment 471830

Thanks bizaliz3, if anyone knows its probably you tbh
Those really are beautiful and more the direction I planned on going, but I was a softie lol

 

Thanks bizaliz3, if anyone knows its probably you tbh
Those really are beautiful and more the direction I planned on going, but I was a softie lol

He may not be emaciated...but he doesn't look the healthiest either. I think you are still rescuing him!! He may not have had a shot at the Lfs. So you've given him a better chance at a longer more quality life.

 

Thanks biz seems to be doing well so far!

 

Thanks biz seems to be doing well so far!

That's great to hear!

 

Munchin away, rarely hides and seems to be gaining weight

Anyone know how to sex these so I can give a proper name or do I just take a best guess since i'm not breeding lol

 

Do I have to blanch zucchinI first ?

 

Do I have to blanch zucchinI first ?

Always a good idea to blanch fresh veggies first.
Oh my but this little one sounds so pretty. Ethereal. Taking such good care of her.

 

Do I have to blanch zucchinI first ?

I never do. They fall apart too fast when blanched first.

 

I never do. They fall apart too fast when blanched first.

They shouldn’t. Cut thick enough?

Do you peel the skin before you put it in the aquarium? I think I could probably do home grown straight into the tank, but not from our groceries. Y’all have stricter regs than we do. I hate they fall apart on you though. Half the fun of feeding is prep time.

 

They shouldn’t. Cut thick enough?

Do you peel the skin before you put it in the aquarium? I think I could probably do home grown straight into the tank, but not from our groceries. Y’all have stricter regs than we do. I hate they fall apart on you though. Half the fun of feeding is prep time.

They don't fall apart immediately or anything. But I like to leave them in the tank for 24-48 hours....if they are blanched first, in my experience, they don't last that long in the tank.

 

They don't fall apart immediately or anything. But I like to leave them in the tank for 24-48 hours....if they are blanched first, in my experience, they don't last that long in the tank.

Ahhh. Understand.