Pleco really not well.

Hey guys,

I'm new here and am having a problem with my common pleco.

We bought a tank second hand from someone who apparently knew about fish, turns out not so much. We are new keepers so still learning but when we got the tank it looked clean but the filter was filthy. The carbon filter fell apart when we went to change it and the microfilter wasn't even there.

Anyway we cleaned and sorted it, keeping an eye on the water tests which we get done at our local aquatics store. We re-homed a 8" Pleco on Saturday as he was being a real bully to the others and were advised by the people in store that our water was exactly as it should be and we could get a couple new fish which we did (2x red honey gouramis and 2x Blue dwarf gouramis). Once we got home and before we put the new fish in we noticed our 5" pleco's tail was not looking to healthy. He had been really bullied by the larger one for the last few days, his tail was looking a bit ragged and had a small hole in it but otherwise he seemed fine and was still eating etc. Added new fish and all seemed well.

Yesterday the pleco seemed really poorly, his skin has gone pale in patches and his top fin is down all the time. He is on the bottom and not really moving and he is now also being bullied by the catfish which has not really happened before. So off we investigated a bit and after some reading decided it sounded quite like fin rot, possibly brought on by the stress of the bullying and then catching the large pleco was a bit of an ordeal in itself!

We have also noticed that a our Bala shark has some marks on her side although fins and behaviour seem normal.

So we have done a 30% water change, gravel hoover. removed the carbon filter, added some aquarium salts and used an antI bacteria and fungus treatment.

What do you guys think? All the other fish seem happy and well.

Really don't want to lose him as he is awesome and hoping we have done everything right.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

First off, I must say, that your tank, 25ish gallons, is much to small for many of your fish.

Featherfin catfish can get up to 8", the common pleco over a foot, and the bala shark over a foot. The only fish that can stay are your red honey gouramis. Dwarfs are aggressive to other gouramis, especially their own.

It is too bad that the people at the fish store gave bad advice. Do you know what your parameters are? Did they give actual numbers?

Here is what I would do:

return/sell/give the dwarf gouramis, shark and catfish away or to the store. They cannot stay in your tank.
Do a massive water change of about 50-60% percent. Stress and poor water conditions as well as being picked on are what has made the pleco sick.
You need to stop adding salt as that is hurting the pleco more than helping. They are not tolerant of salt.
The following day, do another 50% water change, to get teh salt out. I would keep doing this until he improves. And note: things will only get much worse in your tank with the tank mates being incompatible.

Once he heals, you will have to rehome him, or upgrade to a much larger tank - like 1oo gallons.

I know this is not good news, but if you want to save him, I would follow my advice. There are many wonderful fish you can have in a 25 gallon. Not just these fish.
If you like plecos, you can get a bristlenose. They only get up to 6 inches.

Good luck!

 

Thank you for the reply.

We have re-homed the featherfins this evening so they are both now gone and he already seems better. He has been moving around the tank etc.

We will do another water change tomorrow and look at re-homing the other fish although the gouramis seem to be getting along really well and have shown no aggression towards each other at all.

Thank you again and hopefully he will keep improving.

 

Thank you for the reply.

We have re-homed the featherfins this evening so they are both now gone and he already seems better. He has been moving around the tank etc.

We will do another water change tomorrow and look at re-homing the other fish although the gouramis seem to be getting along really well and have shown no aggression towards each other at all.

Thank you again and hopefully he will keep improving.

I'm happy to hear you rehomed the feather fins. It was the best decision you could make. For the fish and for your tank

 

Great work on rehoming some so fast!
I have a good feeling that in your care, your pleco will get better.
Please keep us posted.

 

Once the gouramis settle down and the tank is no longer overstocked/stressful I can garuntee you dead honey gourami. They don't last half a chance with a healthy Dwarf trust me.

 

Just thought I would update you guys.

Pleco got better, he has been eating again and swimming around and is now re-homed along with the bala shark.

 

That's great news! Good job on getting the pleco better. Fish keeping is so much more rewarding when you keep the right fish for a tank, tank mates and so on. Far fewer problems!
You're going to be just fine!

Take care!

 

Glad to hear your Pleco is well.

I'd like to mention getting your own test kit, preferably a liquid kit would be the best as strips are not accurate. Pet stores aren't always true. They sold you Gourmais that shouldn't be kept together. Dwarfs are best kept singly or a male/female. Honeys can be kept in a small group I believe.

Medications can cause good bacteria die off, so getting your own kit to keep an eye on things would be good. Then you can test when something doesn't seem right too.

Daily water changes heal up fin rot. Clean water dose wonders. . Meds should be used as a last resort, but then removing infected fish into a quarantine tank to treat. Unless its ICH.

Welcome to Fishlore!