Plec Dying :(

[HooleyHoop]

Hi all,

I'm in a bit of a panic here. Yesterday I noticed my plec acting rather odd, nothing specific but he didnt seem himself. When I finally saw him proper I noticed he had what looked like ich. So I treated the tank but no improvement. Tonight I have noticed his "nose" nd underbelly has signs of rot - i.e. his dark skin has worn away to reveal greyer skin udnerneath. I straight away got finrot treatment in there hoping that this would work but he just settled on the tank on his side. He's still moving around a bit but is defo not right. He is currently lent against the front of the tank at an angle (belly forwards but not "sucking" on the front of it). He seems to be breathing heaver than usual.

any suggestions? No other fish in the tank (congo and cardinal tetra, gourami or hoplo catfish) are showing signs of being ill just my plec

Thanks in advance
chris

 

[HooleyHoop]

UPDATE: His tail has started to rot away now and I can see specs of red through his scales round the tail area. He still seems to be moving about ok and breathe doesnt seem quite as laboured but I do think he's only here for a couple of days

 

[WILDER]

Bless him he sounds like he's in a bad way.
Does he rub himself on things in the tank.
Greyish white patches beneath the skin can be columnaris, also can cause rotting and peeling of the skin.

 

[HooleyHoop]

Hi Wilder,

He does rub against the stone substrate at the minute instead of just settling down when he comes to a stop....

I'll do some research on columnaris....what are his chances? Is there anything more I can do for him or just seem if he pulls through?

 

[HooleyHoop]

Big ole water change done tonight. Plec not moving much but he does seem *slightly* better than this morning. What meds can I use to help him?

 

[WILDER]

If its columnaris and not a parasite uk myxazin and pimafix.
United states for columnaris maracyn one and two.

 

[HooleyHoop]

Well I was going to pick some up after work today however poor pleco died overnight

I'm going to keep up with some big water changes now this week. No other fishing are showing signs but want to make sure. Would it harm to medicate the tank anyway?

 

[LauraFrog]

Don't use antibiotics on a tank if the fish are not actually sick. Antibiotics will cause more problems than they solve. In fact, just about anything antibacterial will wipe out your filter and then you will lose everything else. Add melafix, it can't hurt and it will make it less likely for the other fish to get it. Columnaris in that form isn't really contagious, it's when you get one of the very fast acting strains that you have to euthanise everything that gets it and sterilise the tanks. It's often but not always caused by stress so check for aggression issues and test your water quality.

 

[HooleyHoop]

Thanks for the advice Laura. I'll get some melafix tonight from my LFS. Water quality is slightly on the poor side at the moment but nothing horrific at all. I'm going to keep up with daily water changes and see what happens.

Looks like I'm off to get a new pleco this weekend.

 

[WILDER]

Water changes on your tank.
R.I.P. Bless him.