Sick Pleco

[kennyatshop]

Afternoon

wondering if someone out there can help,

my pleco's stomach is larger then normal and he hasn't been pooping / eating the last week or so ? what does come out is clear but very little

he has what looks like a film over his eyes?,

I took him out of my tank and put him in a large mop bucker for now just incase he has something and it doesn't affect the other fish

i put some broccoli in the bucket for him to eat not interest in it at all

any suggestion on what it could be or what to do? thanks

he's around 20 years old

Thanks Everyone, first post hopefully all is inline

 

[Fishfur]

Welcome to Fishlore.

That appears to be an advanced case of bloat plus there is obvious and significant inflammation on the belly, which indicates an internal infection. Chances are pretty high it’s mycobacterial & these bacteria are incredibly difficult to treat even when treatment begins at the very first indication of the problem.

At this advanced stage and because he has stopped eating, there’s no treatment that would save him now.

I am so sorry to be saying this, but if this fish belonged to me I would have humanely euthanized the poor thing before it got this bad, so it wouldn’t suffer a prolonged death.

I would give serious consideration to euthanasia.

 

[3Fishnight]

20 years is a pretty long life for him/her you did well.

 

[kennyatshop]

Welcome to Fishlore.

That appears to be an advanced case of bloat plus there is obvious and significant inflammation on the belly, which indicates an internal infection. Chances are pretty high it’s mycobacterial & these bacteria are incredibly difficult to treat even when treatment begins at the very first indication of the problem.

At this advanced stage and because he has stopped eating, there’s no treatment that would save him now.

I am so sorry to be saying this, but if this fish belonged to me I would have humanely euthanized the poor thing before it got this bad, so it wouldn’t suffer a prolonged death.

I would give serious consideration to euthanasia.

Thanks for the information,
my wife will be picking up some clove oil today,

do you know or is there a way to know how this happened? should i be worried about my other fish in the tank?

20 years is a pretty long life for him/her you did well.

Thanks,
he seen a lot of the world with me haha
I moved around a lot in my teens into my 20;s, He once made a trip 5200 km across Canada with me in a Tupperware tub in the back of the truck when i moved from Alberta to Nova Scotia 15 years ago

He will be missed as the man in charge of the tank.

 

[Fishfur]

Age diminishes immune responses & mycobacteria are always present.

Like most of the bacteria that can cause infection, they’re opportunistic, so all it really takes is for a few too many of them to evade the immune system’s response - and then illness ensues.

This is how many common illnesses happen - in all manner of creatures great & small.