Pleco white spots

[PaddlingPuffin]

Hey everyone. My pleco has recently started getting more and more white spots on their body and I'm not sure what to think of it. I've read about ich and camouflage and I want to make sure what the problem is before I put them in quarantine. Thanks!

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

If it is ich, then it might be best to treat the tank.
You don't need medications.
What temperature is your tank currently running at and do you use aquarium salt?

 

[PaddlingPuffin]

If it is ich, then it might be best to treat the tank.
You don't need medications.
What temperature is your tank currently running at and do you use aquarium salt?

It's currently 26°C (79F) and I have aquarium salt but haven't put any into the tank bc I think I read somewhere that it could burn their gills and harm the plants unless I specifically quarantine the sick fish?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

It's currently 26°C (79F) and I have aquarium salt but haven't put any into the tank bc I think I read somewhere that it could burn their gills and harm the plants unless I specifically quarantine the sick fish?

You were told wrong, I'm afraid.
Normally, our basic tapwater is so purified, it is devoid of the minerals that are found in 'normal' water.
'Aquarium salt' is basically a standard salt, but without any of the additives found in table salt, for example, which ease pouring and prevent clumping.
'Aquarium salt' adds useful minerals to your tank water, facilitating fish healing and general wellbeing.

Whenever I'm asked about aquarium salt, I point them at these videos;
Aquarium CoOp
KGTropicals

Regarding the ich, treatment would be to increase your tank temperature by a degree every day, until you reach 86℉.

 

[PaddlingPuffin]

You were told wrong, I'm afraid.
Normally, our basic tapwater is so purified, it is devoid of the minerals that are found in 'normal' water.
'Aquarium salt' is basically a standard salt, but without any of the additives found in table salt, for example, which ease pouring and prevent clumping.
'Aquarium salt' adds useful minerals to your tank water, facilitating fish healing and general wellbeing.

Whenever I'm asked about aquarium salt, I point them at these videos;
Aquarium CoOp
KGTropicals

Regarding the ich, treatment would be to increase your tank temperature by a degree every day, until you reach 86℉.

Thanks for the tips! Will check those videos out. What are your thoughts on keeping the fish with ich in the main tank and raising the temperature of the whole tank?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Thanks for the tips! Will check those videos out. What are your thoughts on keeping the fish with ich in the main tank and raising the temperature of the whole tank?

Sorry...I forgot to mention...

If a fish has ich, then it's safe to assume that the tank has ich.
If we were talking about medications, things can get complicated, because different tank inhabitants have different needs and tolerances to meds.
For example, ich treatments can be copper-based, with would be fatal to shrimp and snail.

Fortunately, we're talking temperature and your tank inhabitants should be able to cope.
What else have you got in there, besides neons?

 

[DoubleDutch]

Only thing is : this is definitely not Ich.
Looks like a bacterial issue. Raising the temp isn't a good idea, salt maybe is.

 

[DoubleDutch]

It looks quite thin btw. What is it fed ?

 

[PaddlingPuffin]

It looks quite thin btw. What is it fed ?

Pellets and flakes twice a day and recently introduced courgette in addition to the usual. I've had this community of fish for about a month and I'm aiming to slowly add more variety.

Could I ask how you can tell the difference between bacterial infection and ich and how much salt might be a good idea to add?

 

[PaddlingPuffin]

Sorry...I forgot to mention...

If a fish has ich, then it's safe to assume that the tank has ich.
If we were talking about medications, things can get complicated, because different tank inhabitants have different needs and tolerances to meds.
For example, ich treatments can be copper-based, with would be fatal to shrimp and snail.

Fortunately, we're talking temperature and your tank inhabitants should be able to cope.
What else have you got in there, besides neons?

Ahh I see- I've got tetras, guppies, cory catfish and a shrimp in with him and they seem to be fine for now I think.

The salt videos are very helpful! I'm hoping I don't put too much in

 

[Essjay]

Salt is a very useful antiseptic for treating sick fish but should not be used routinely.
The dose rate is 1 heaped tablespoonful of salt per 5 gallons tank water. Dissolve in some tank water in a separate container, then pour slowly into the tank. Once treatment has finished, water changes will dilute the salt till it's all gone.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Pellets and flakes twice a day and recently introduced courgette in addition to the usual. I've had this community of fish for about a month and I'm aiming to slowly add more variety.

Could I ask how you can tell the difference between bacterial infection and ich and how much salt might be a good idea to add?

Don't forget protein (shrimpplellets, bloodworms, brineshrimp aso) Cooked brussels sprouts, bellpeppers etc etc...

Ich shows defined pittle spots. These are more gray layers. BTW can occure as a secundairy infection after Ich !