Sick Albino Pleco

Tank

What is the water volume of the tank?
180L
Does it have a filter?
Yes, Aquasun canister filter SCF1000

Does it have a heater?
Yes
What is the water temperature?
29°c
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)
1 x 5 1/2 year old sailfin pleco
1 x 4 year albino sailfin pleco

Maintenance
How often do you change the water?
Weekly
How much of the water do you change?
25%
What do you use to treat your water?
Seachem Prime and Seachem stability
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water?
Sunstrate
*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish?
Yes
What do you use to test the water?
API freshwater master test kit
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.

Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:spiked this week from 20 to 80, am currently doing 5% water changes hourly to reduce slowly
pH:6.8
Feeding
How often do you feed your fish?once per day at night
How much do you feed your fish? 1 algae wafer per fish every second day and a piece of zucchinI or cucumber each on days between
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Pisces laboratories
Do you feed frozen or freeze-dried foods? No

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 4 years
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? 5 days
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Distended abdomen, innards look black through skin, lethargic, laying on side or back, not eating at all, breathing at a rapid rate
Have you started any treatment for the illness? 25% daily water changes, until spike in nitrates, today 5% water changes hourly and have stopped feeding
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? As described above under symptoms

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
First noticed Alby on his back on Tuesday morning with slightly swollen abdomen, put my hand in and he righted himself and swam away, seemed ok, I thought maybe he'd eaten too much. Tested water, all was fine, did a 25% water change, then next morning when I woke up he was on his back again but this time only righted himself but did not swim away when I put my hand in, did another water change and he didn't even try to get out of the way of the vacuum, his behaviour has stayed the same since, barely moving, spending a lot of time on his back, his insides have gradually gotten darker as his abdomen has become more distended and his breathing has become so fast he looks like he'll explode.
I feel like euthanasia might be the mist humane option. I just want someone to tell me if they have any other ideas?

 

Could it be caused by a lack of protein ?

 

Possibly.. the wafers I use are 32% crude protein? I'm leaning more towards extreme constipation though. I haven't seen him poo since Monday. I think I'll bathe him in epsom salts tomorrow if he's still with us

 

I'd add some frozen / living food to its diet.

 

I'll try that.. if he ever starts eating again! Thanks

 

HI DoubleDutch, unfortunately after daily water changes with vacuuming, daily epsom salt baths and offering peas, zucchini, bloodworms and shrimp (none of which he touched), Alby passed away this morning
After removing him from the tank I noticed signs of velvet disease speckles on his belly which must have only developed yesterday as before that he was belly up most of the time giving me a good view of his abdomen.
With a torch and lights out, I have inspected his much bigger brother who has a gold dusting on his nose and side of body
My question now is, in your opinion, do you think Alby's original symptoms could point to velvet disease, I haven't seen anything like it, or did he develop it because his immune system had been compromised by whatever struck him down? I'm thinking possible ingestion of gravel which has become lodged? Next, his brother (Freckle) is now the sole occupant of the tank, how best to treat? I already have the tank in darkness and have raised the temp but, salt? There's so much conflicting info on salt and plecos, will it help or cause more damage?
These are my sons fish, Freckle is his first ever fish and has had him for 5 years, he can't die!
Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated

 

Sorry to hear !