Bn Pleco Slime On Gills

I have posted it in Pleco section, but getting more concern.

Tank size:65gal hexagon
pH:7.2
ammonia:n/a
nitrite:0
nitrate:40
kH:80
gH:300
tank temp:78 F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
BN pleco has some kind of white slime on his gills, it has been like that for last week. Today I noticed the pale white spots (not like ick) around the gill and tiny air bubbles. Could it be some kind of parasites? He eats vigoriously. More then that he is fighting with tankmates for the food (fidler crab, clown loaches, angels).

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 2-3 weeks

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None

Tank inhabitants: 6 Angels, 4 clown loaches (2 of them 3,5" long and other 2 - 1,5"), 4 Assorted Rainbows, 3 Bala Sharks and 1 Fidler Crab

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals: Used PRIME to reduce the level of Nitrates, but the problem started before that.

Digital photo (include if possible): Little white spots on the side not the ick, it's tiny bubbles.

Any other fish have the white spots.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting or erratic swimming.

it does look like whitespot abit. Bubbles can also be a sign of whitespot.


Your tanks looks overstocked to me.
Do you have ammonia reading.
Also with your stocking the tank wants maintaining once a week.

Wilder said:

Any other fish have the white spots.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting or erratic swimming.

it does look like whitespot abit. Bubbles can also be a sign of whitespot.


Your tanks looks overstocked to me.
Do you have ammonia reading.
Also with your stocking the tank wants maintaining once a week.

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I do not have an ammonia readding, I always thought if nitrites level is fine, then there are no amomonia. But if I'm wrong please let me know.
As for the flickering and darting, he does this sometimes,but haven't seen him rubbing. What are these signs might mean if the fish does have them all?

I also doubt it's a white spot, I had a case of white spot with clown loaches, so it's definatelly not the white spot. Plus today the bubbles are gone, just the tip of his one gill still white.

You can have ammonia reading when nitrite is 0.
Also with your stocking you need to be doing a water change and gravel vac once a week.

If the fish is darting and flicking with the white spots it sounds like whitespot to me.

Wilder said:

You can have ammonia reading when nitrite is 0.
Also with your stocking you need to be doing a water change and gravel vac once a week.

If the fish is darting and flicking with the white spots it sounds like whitespot to me.

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Definatelly not the white spot, the bubble were gone the same day, yesterday he had white fuzz on both of his gills, today he looks clean. Could it be possible that is't just part of growing bristles? They are getting longer lately and he does eat like crazy fighting everybody for the food.

To be honest not sure what the spots are then.
Do the spots move.

Make sure they don't look like a cluster of eggs or look like cauliflower.

Wilder said:

To be honest not sure what the spots are then.
Do the spots move.

Make sure they don't look like a cluster of eggs or look like cauliflower.

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No there were not moving. As I mentioned earlier spots are gone, but there is a white fuzz on the gills.

Fuzz could be fungus.

snowflake311 said:

Fuzz could be fungus.

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Could you tell me please what is the most efective and safe treatment for the fungus? Thanks

okdodd said:

snowflake311 said:

Fuzz could be fungus.

Click to expand...

Could you tell me please what is the most efective and safe treatment for the fungus? Thanks

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Pimafix.