Please help save my Plec. Urgent.

[PlecFanatic]

Hello everyone,

My Plec is alive but on her back. She seems to be in a panic as when she swims its as if she is having a fit. She is also swimming upside down.
Her stomach is swollen. We've had her for about a year.

I have uploaded some pictures. Please take a look I am in a bit of a panic here so forgive me if the pictures are blurry or if I havent explained the situation properly.

I have just finished cleaning the tank out as well.

I use Cycle & Aquasafe to restore the bacterial balance etc.

At the moment she is laying correctly & "seems" ok but I am worried.

Water parameters before water change:
pH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 160

I know the Nitrate is high. I have been trying to get it down by doing regular water changes, which is once a week.

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[Lornek8]

Looks like bloat. Could be caused by water conditions or improper feeding or both. If it's eating you could try deshelled peas though it sounds beyond that. I'd continue to try and bring down the nitrates. You will need to do more frequent water changes as it seen concepts week is not enough. What is you tank stocking level?

Have you tested your tap water for nitrates? Often the tap water can have nitrates which will make it difficult to get the levels down in your tank.

 

[PlecFanatic]

Hiya,

Thanks for your reply.

I will try to feed her the deshelled peas. May I ask how I can do that? Do I just throw them in & hope she eats them? She does eat. I feed her & my other pleco Cucumbers regularly & Algae Wafers. I am trying to not feed them Algae Wafers as much, though.

I have the following inmy tank:
3 Tetras
4 Corydoras
2 Dojo Loaches (one has Pop eye, i think)
2 Zebra Danios
1 Siamese Fighter
1 Common Pleco (7inches long)
1 Albino Female Bristlenose Pleco.

It seems shes panting at the moment.

I have never tested my tap water for Nitrates. I didnt think to do that.


What is bloat? How can I be sure its bloat? Shes pooing normally (Alot & the colour in brown but I have see it white before and stringy)


Thanks again.

 

[Irene0100]

yes just take the skin off the peas and throw in tank, they will sink.
not sure what london water is like re hardness, but try and lower ph a little if you can ~(wood/peat/blackwater extract, indian almond leaves)
and water change every few days -about 20-30%

 

[Rey]

Epsom salt about 15ml (not sure the dry weight) scoop has helped cure two ancistrus bloat. but if she is pooing maybe something else?

 

[Irene0100]

wow, can finally see pics, could not see them yesterday. that poor fish is in trouble. I would stop all food except for some peas. it may be bloat , or internal infection, or tumour even.

 

[zeebo]

hi , been following your thread. She does look pretty bad, but with life there is hope. You said a few noted things-she is pooing brown, that is fine, especially if she is still eating. Clear segments in the poo mean internal parasites and meds are needed to clear that up, but first the bloat needs to be addressed. Bloat can be caused by many things, too much protien food, not enough raw veggies, water conditions, etc. Plecs intestines can get clogged.

First as other member suggested, go with peas, frozen, nuke in water for a minute, cool and squeeze the thin shell off. For her situation it may be easier to lightly mush them between your fingers to break them up a little bit so easier for her to eat. It should help '' clean her out'' . Don't feed anybody in the tank anything else except peas or she may go for the protien foods.

All my fish love peas and they get them once a week or once every 2 weeks. My plecs never get protien foods , only raw veggies, but I know some plecs neeed meaty food ,just depends on what type one has. At the moment , only peas till she cleans out.

Hope she pulls through , I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

If you can't get the nitrates down,add a capful of Prime to help detoxify,

Good luck and keep us posted,

 

[bigbird]

Wow poor thing. I would stop feeding and as others stated use peas for poss bloat. How is he and any updates ? Cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Brengun]

If a fish was bloated that badly I would probably pop it in the fry saver or net up high in the top of the tank. The closer to the surface the more oxygen is available and it may reduce a bit of stress.

It would also allow the fish to recover in peace without other fish poking and nipping at it causing further distress.

I wouldn't feed it for probably 3 weeks to allow the internal bloat damage to heal. When its lean and hungry again, feed peas and other green vegetables. It may always be prone to bloat in future and may need to live in a tank with only vegetable type foods.