Para Pleco Worries- Edit: Pic Added

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Over the last week or so my para pleco has been showing some odd but very active behavior, and now it appears to have an infection on its "nose".

Basically, i have noticed over the last week or so my para plec has been swimming up and down the tank, particually against the tank glass. As it scoots up and down the tank, it ends up rubbing its nose against the tank glass and now its nose appears sore- its gone a bit pink. Other than the odd and very active behavior of the pleco, its stomach appears a bit on the skinny side.

There are no other symptoms, behavioral or physical, and it seems pretty healthy and normal other than that- its eating as normal and its appetite is good. What is causing it to behave in this unusual way? I believe the sore nose is a result of it swimming up and down the tank glass, and not the other way around, as it only got a sore nose very recently. Whats wrong with pleco and how should i go about treating it?

With the tank environment, water quality is good (0 ammonia and nitrites, 15 nitrates), stocking is in included in my profile. The only other thing that is amiss is the sailfin and common pleco which also occupy the same tank- the common pleco has been bullying the sailfin a lot recently and is soon to be moved to another 125gal tank soon though.

 

[Bex]

Hi Tokis-Phoenix

We've got a Para Pleco and he is always very active. What size is yours? Recently ours has turned into a bit of a bully with the others, even though he's not the biggest. I'd say he is about 4-5".

Is yours only recently active? Have you tried feeding him prawns? Ours loves a prawn so perhaps that will get him eating again?

For his nose I would just try a nice big water change and perhaps a course of Melafix to stop it getting infected.

Also maybe try putting a few more caves in for more hiding places so he feels a bit safer if there's been a bit of bullying going on with the other plecs. Maybe try and get some algae wafers in right next to his favourite spot where he sits to make sure he is eating?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would say he's about 5inches long, this odd behavior is very recent, i've had him over a year now and as far as i know he's never showed this type of behavior before. His diet mostly consists of cucumber, prawns, alage wafers, catfish pelets, large bloodworms and occasionally foods like mussels and cockels.
The tank could probably do with more caves, however there are caves in the tank that aren't really occupied already- i will get some pics later today and re-arrange the decor and do a water change, however i am concerned if i treat him with meds it won't stop the odd behavior which gave him the nose infection in the first place .

 

[Bex]

Perhaps it is simply the fact that now he is a bit bigger he has got braver? I've noticed this recently with one of our other plecs. He was only about 4" when we got him and we've hardly seen him. Now he is close to the 6" mark we are seeing him daily.

Our Para did have a couple of days swimming up and down the glass but he stopped it. Do you think it could have started when your other plec started to bully the sailfin? It might have freaked him out a bit? I would still go with some Melafix just to stop any infection starting. It won't stop the strange behaviour but at least he won't end up sick.

If he hasn't stopped in a couple of days, maybe try moving the plec that started to bully and see if that stops it? My guess is that it has something to do with that as everything else seems fine with the tank and the food he is eating. Perhaps the other 2 bigger guys are munching most of the food which could be why he is skinny?

Keep me updated on his progress. I love Para plecs, they are stunning so hope your guy is going to be ok

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I'll see if i can move the large bully common pleco out into another tank then as well hopefully either today or within the next couple of days then, i will try and keep you updated on the para pleco's behavior and health as well, thanks for the help

 

[Bex]

My pleasure

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok, last night i bought some more plants for the tank, did a bit of re-decorating, did a water change, added some melafix and "anti internal bacteria" by Interpet, and moved out the large common pleco to another tank. The tank is definately a lot more peaceful without the sailfin and common pleco fighting it out between each other, but the para pleco is still displaying its odd behavior (although maybe its my imagination, but it doesn't appear to be doing it as much).
I'm going to do another water change tomorrow and add more melafix and posibly some pimafix, but i don't know what to do other than that ? The para plecs nose looks more sore today (its more red than pink now).

 

[Bex]

Is he going right up to the surface like he's trying to get some air? Perhaps an air stone would help? Not sure what else to suggest, this seems quite strange.

Now you've moved some stuff about and re-homed bully boy, perhaps he just needs a couple of days and he'll settle. If you haven't got an air stone going I would try that for a few days.

My Para loves the air stone as it goes. We've got one that is just a long thin tube with lots of little holes in it, rather than a stone, and every now and then he lays on it. Think it might be a bit like a little pleco jacuzzi!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Nope he's not going up to the surface for air, just keeps going up and down the tank at the bottom. There are two filters in the tank, one of which is at the surface and creates a lot of bubbles, so i don't think oxygen is a problem- all the other fish in the tank are fine and acting normally, i'll let the tank settle down for a couple of days though like you said just in case he needs some time to settle down .

 

[Bex]

Very odd. It's frustrating when you can't work out what they are doing. See how he goes for the next couple of days, and again, keep me posted.

If he hasn't settled, I'll try asking some other places see if they have any idea and maybe we can shed some light on it!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Well, i got a pic of the pleco- as you can see his nose is quite pink;

I took this pic this morning, he doesn't seem to be showing the odd behavior as much as what he was doing yesterday, however he hasn't stopped doing it yet .

 

[Bex]

I see what you mean, his nose is quite pink isn't it? He's lovely by the way

Got me stumped on this one. You said your water stats are all ok? I thought he'd must have just rubbed it on gravel but you've got a sand substrate. And you've changed the tank around.

I think for now you're just going to have to keep an eye on him. Make sure he's eating plenty and try to get his nose to heal.

Half the problem is that I don't think too many people have Para Plecos so it's hard to help. Is he literally just swimming up and down in one place all the time? I'll try asking around for you, see if anyone else can shed some light. Is he going up and down the tank or along the bottom, side to side?

Want to get your guy better!

 

[Bex]

How is he?