Bn Pleco - Help Needed!

[Christi_22]

Hi

I hope someone can help, I have just noticed that my male BN Pleco appears to have swellings on his underside (basically where his chest is) The swellings appear to be symmetrical. He is quite a shy plec and spends a lot of time in his cave, and so I have not had the opportunity to observe him closely underneath prior to this evening. When he does emerge he is usually attached to the bogwood in the tank, or on the substrate (which is a fine gravel). today he was attached to the glass (he rarely does this). It makes me wander how long he has had this condition. (i spend hours watching the tank and have never noticed before)

I have had him for approx 6 weeks bought from the LFS. All the other inhabitants appear to be normal

Tank stats below:

Tank size: 20 Gallons
pH: 7.2
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:25
kH:10
gH: In the range 14-21
tank temp: 26c

Fish Symptoms: 2 Symmetrical swellings underneath lateral fins behind the gills. looks red bulbous and inflamed. His behaviour appears to be normal

Volume and Frequency of water changes: weekly water changes approx 25%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Prime (when doing water changes)

Tank inhabitants: 1 BN Plec, 2 Gold Gourami, 8 Cardinal Tetras, 5 Guppies, 1 snail noticed about 4 weeks ago that must have arrived with plants looks like a Malaysian Trumpet snail

Recent additions to your tank: Added 2 plants 5 days ago:

Exposure to chemicals: None

Hope someone can help

Thanks
C

 

[Sofia]

hmmmmm, this is a stumper, it would really help if you could get some pictures of the red lumps. Are they bleeding at all? can you tell if they are filled with any liquid or do they appear solid?

 

[WILDER]

Any blood bemeath the skin.
I would issolate him and try a bacterial med.
Is the lump hard or soft like filled with fluid.

 

[5teady_2012]

Just checked mine and they have this but very light coloured (like a pale red) my females are much lighter though more like a pinky colour..

Is your males belly very fat, like he has ate a lot? could just be a bit bloated and it look more severe due to it.

Feed him a frozen pea (cooked for a few mins and left to cool) de shell it and smudge in fingers and feed to him.

 

[Tolak]

Get a heater guard. Plecs will park on heaters when they are off, the gradual increase when they cycle on for some reason doesn't register with them.

 

[Christi_22]

Hi all

Thanks for your replies, sorry for not getting back sooner (my internet and phone have been down for over a week)!! I have tried to attach a photo, but apparently it is too big (ie over 100 kb, not sure what to do)??
C

 

[silverrabbit]

You can add your pic to Photobucket and downsize it there

Hope he gets better soon

 

[Christi_22]

You can add your pic to Photobucket and downsize it there

Hope he gets better soon

Thanks SR

Hopefully this will work!!

 

[Christi_22]

You can add your pic to Photobucket and downsize it there

Hope he gets better soon

Thanks SR

Hopefully this will work!!

Another pic which is clearer i think

 

[WILDER]

Have you used a med.

 

[Christi_22]

Have you used a med.

No, no meds, so far. Wanted to identify the problem first

 

[WILDER]

I must be blind but can't make much out in the pic,.
I would issolate him and try a bacterial med.

 

[Christi_22]

I must be blind but can't make much out in the pic,.
I would issolate him and try a bacterial med.

That sounds like a good idea BUT, he is really shy, and will get stressed. but more to the point, what bacterial med? and how long to isolate. i don't have a spare tank although I am sure I could sort something out in the short term.

Thanks to everyone by the way. I have also posted on a Pleco forum, and no one has been able to identify the problem so far

 

[WILDER]

Lfs meds are only good on mild bacterial infections.
I would add anti internal bacteria med by interpet, but it might not do the job.

In the pic its look like a swelling with some red bits.
The problem with lumps they can burst and infect the whole tank.