Sick Bulldog Plec?

[karawr]

Hi all,

Last week I got a bulldog/rubberlip pleco from petsmart. He was very shy at first, always hiding in the back corner... but recently he has been coming out and sitting at the front of the tank. I feed him algae wafers, but I never see him eating.

Other inhabitants are corydoras habrosus, and I do have two malaysian driftwoods but I never see him on those either. Do bulldogs even eat that or is it just common plecs? Anyways...

This morning he suddenly turned white and wasn't moving at all... I was even able to pick him up without him moving or fussing, so I placed him inbetween two logs to make him feel more safe as he was out in the open... his colour is returning now. Did a nitrite/ammonia test and all is good...

He has also had some spastic moments where he turns in circles really fast, then stops and twitches... and he is now laying on his side.

 

[karawr]

The pleco has died. All the colour returned except around his eyes... it was all white like a mask on his face... and his eyes were very red and protruding...

 

[Tizer]

was your nitrite and ammonia zero?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Sorry for your loss

Rubbernose are lovely catfish, but they do seem to be very fragile during the first few weeks after bringing them home. Besides the essential cooler temps (20-23C) that most Chaetostoma need along with a strong upper level current to aerate the water (just like Asain "hillstream loach"), getting them eating after the move can be a nightmare. I never saw my L444 eat anything I added to the tank in front of me, yet it always came to the front of the tank to greet me, until a few weeks later it went missing... To reappear dead a few days later


Must confess I nearly came home with a gorgeous friendly male L444 and a couple of companions last week, until I spotted tiny white dots of his underside and fins, quite possibly showing Ich. Apparently they are quite prone to this disease and given their high oxygen requirements, raising the temp to >30C for at least ten days is out of the question.

 

[karawr]

Yes as said in my post ammonia and nitrite were 0.

I got a replacement and if he doesn't survive I don't think I'll be replacing him.

I wasn't aware they needed cooler temps... I will turn it down a little bit but I don't know about that cool considering my cories... I had also turned the filter down as it was pushing my poor cories around but I will turn it up again and see what happens. Agh reading your post has made me nervous now lol. I bought my cories for $50 and brought them in from out of town, it would be a major loss if they died... aghhhhhhh!! Will be keeping a sharp eye on this one.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Which corydoras have you got with the Rubbernose? Many of the common ones, with exceptions like say C. sterbai, prefer slightly cooler than tropical temps and would be fine at 22C.

Does your filter use a spraybar that you can tweak the direction and of the output? If so, either try positioning the holes ~1cm below the waterline having the holes pointing up at ~45 degrees, or have the spraybar just above the waterline with the holes pointing more horizontal than down and run it at full power. This will hopefully concentrate more of the filter's energy at rippling the water surface for vital oxygenation for you Rubbernose, while keeping things calmer for your corys down below.

And try and get us a side-on photo so we can have a go at identifying which of the 25+ Rubbernose species you have!

 

[Tizer]

Yes as said in my post ammonia and nitrite were 0.

No, you said all is good. Which is why i asked, because i dont know you from Adam and i've no idea how experienced you are. Hence the confirmation.

I recently added 3 to my tank, which i keep at 25 degrees and they seem fine. But i also have an additional powerhead going which i believe is beneficial for them as they like a bit of flow.

 

[karawr]

Which corydoras have you got with the Rubbernose? Many of the common ones, with exceptions like say C. sterbai, prefer slightly cooler than tropical temps and would be fine at 22C.

Does your filter use a spraybar that you can tweak the direction and of the output? If so, either try positioning the holes ~1cm below the waterline having the holes pointing up at ~45 degrees, or have the spraybar just above the waterline with the holes pointing more horizontal than down and run it at full power. This will hopefully concentrate more of the filter's energy at rippling the water surface for vital oxygenation for you Rubbernose, while keeping things calmer for your corys down below.

And try and get us a side-on photo so we can have a go at identifying which of the 25+ Rubbernose species you have!

I've got habrosus and with the cooler temps they all seem to be doing fine... no huddling around the heater or anything.

I wish I had a spray bar, but no. I've just got a hang on filter that waterfalls out (Aquaclear 30). I will try to get a picture of the new guy... but it may take awhile because he is always hiding. I've got an airstone in there, should I add another one? Thanks for your response.

Also any suggestions on getting him to eat? I never see him eating. I've tried algae wafers and cucumber but he doesn't seem interested. Gonna try some melon tomorrow I read they might like that.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A powerhead angled towards the surface would really help aerate the water while your HOB filters it, but how powerful a powerhead you need will need to take your little C. hasbrosus into account and the size of the tank. For example, you might need something as small as one of the Hydor "pico" range.

Do you know what the fish shop were feeding the Rubbernose and definitely seeing the plec eating, or can you find out? Sometimes Rubbernose settle in better and start eating if they are given a small boulder to call home, that is swapped out every day or two for a new one that has had a mixture of food "painted" on it...

http/www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=294

 

[karawr]

Yeah I was reading that painting thing.

I'll have to get a rock and paint something on it asap... thank youu.