Golden Nugget Pleco Help

[Chartreux03]

I was hoping to get some advice on my pleco as im unsure of his health. Here is a brief summary of what has happened. I have started a new 150 gallon tank that is not yet completely cycled via fishless method. My pleco was in my 55 gallon for over 6 years with no problems. I sold the 55 gallon and wanted to keep the pleco. I did not expect to get rid of the 55 gallon for another couple weeks but circumstances changed that. I put the pleco in the 150 gallon by himself yesterday and my wife noticed the whitish stuff on the inside of his mouth? The 150 as I stated is not completely cycled and is definently not the greatest conditions for any fish at this point. What is important to mention is the tank is planed to be a discus only tank with the exception of possibly the pleco. Since I did not intend to put the pleco in the tank so soon I ordered bio spira and should arrive tuesday. My biggest concern is what if anything my pleco might have and what should I do? I can't chance infecting any of the discus I should be getting soon. I want to mention that this type of pleco is small 5-6" and the spot is hard to make out as its against the glass. I don't know if the pleco had problems before as he always hides. But the day before I moved him he ate a whole romain leaf. I can take more pictures if it will be helpful. Thanks

 

[LauraFrog]

It looks a bit like columnaris, which can be caused by poor water quality, a possibility if the tank wasn't completely cycled. I dont' really know though, but this post will get the thread to the top again. Wilder's on - columnaris advice 101! lol

 

[WILDER]

Can you issolate the plec and use a bacterial med.

 

[Chartreux03]

Can you issolate the plec and use a bacterial med.

I really don't have any means of issolating the pleco. I have tentative plans to pick up the discus Friday if the Bio spira works and everything is ready.

 

[WILDER]

It's not really a wise move to add fish to a tank when you have desease.
I would treat the tank with a bacterial med.

Water changes and increased aeration.
When you preform a water change just add the correct amount of med back to the water removed.

 

[Chartreux03]

Unfortuantely I will proballay have to dispose of the pleco as I have no means of treating him. When The tank is fully cycled I will do a 90% water change before adding the discus. I would assume If the pleco is removed from the tank and it is fully cycled with a 90% water change I shouldn't have to worry about transfering the disease?

 

[WILDER]

When you say dispose of the pleco what do yoy mean he only needs a bacerial med.
Discus need excellent water quality, a mature tank would be better.

 

[Chartreux03]

When you say dispose of the pleco what do yoy mean he only needs a bacerial med.
Discus need excellent water quality, a mature tank would be better.

Unfortunately I will remove the pleco and send him to fish heaven. He was the only fish in the tank as it is still in the cycling process. As I mentioned I will be adding bio spira and should have the tank cycled in a few days. After the tank is cycled I will do a 90% water change and plan to vuy my discus shortly after. My only concern now is will the tank be safe to add discus when the tank is fully cycled? Can whatever the pleca had pass on to the discus with the discus gone?

 

[stang1]

Please don't put down a perfectly healthy fish just because you want Discus in the tank.
What do you mean by having no way of treating him? Wilder has already explained that you only need a medication and he should be right as rain.
Why don't you take him back to the lfs and let someone else give him a home where he will actually be cared for?
The fact that you have added a very sensitive fish to an uncycled tank gives the impression that you need to do plenty of research before adding any fish to your tank, let alone Discus. Discus are also very sensitive and need perfect water quality and a lot of care, not an ideal starter fish in my opinion.
I don't mean to rant but this behaviour saddens and angers me. Fish are totally dependant on us and it is a fishkeepers responsibility to provide as much care as possible.

 

[Chartreux03]

Please don't put down a perfectly healthy fish just because you want Discus in the tank.
What do you mean by having no way of treating him? Wilder has already explained that you only need a medication and he should be right as rain.
Why don't you take him back to the lfs and let someone else give him a home where he will actually be cared for?
The fact that you have added a very sensitive fish to an uncycled tank gives the impression that you need to do plenty of research before adding any fish to your tank, let alone Discus. Discus are also very sensitive and need perfect water quality and a lot of care, not an ideal starter fish in my opinion.
I don't mean to rant but this behaviour saddens and angers me. Fish are totally dependant on us and it is a fishkeepers responsibility to provide as much care as possible.

Im sorry if your upset by what I suggested I may do. If you read my first post I didn't have a choice with putting the pleco in the un cycled tank as someone had to take my old tank much earlier than expected. I am an experienced fishkeeper and have been keeping fish on and off for 18 years. The tank I just sold was over six years old and not one fish I had duing that time died. Actually the anglefish I had paired off and laid eggs many times. I am not a cruel person nor do I want to harm the pleco. Both my wife and I feel really bad about the thought of putting the pleco down. I would hate to take the pleco to a lfs with a highly contagious disease to infect other fish. I really don't want to invest the money to set up a hospital tank. currently im looking to see if I could find my old 10 gallon tank and try to treat the pleco. Unfortunately I don't think to many lfs around me will take the time to treat the pleco. Again I apolagize if I uset anybody but I was stuff with unforunate circumstances. I am concerned as to iff the new tank would still carry disease?

 

[LolaLouie]

Wow that's harsh killing an animal because you can't be bothered to treat it. Lucky your parents didn't feel that way when you got the flu as a kid. Life is valuable even if it is just the life of a fish. Very sad.

 

[Chartreux03]

Wow that's harsh killing an animal because you can't be bothered to treat it. Lucky your parents didn't feel that way when you got the flu as a kid. Life is valuable even if it is just the life of a fish. Very sad.

Would you spend $80 to purchase the supplies to nurse back a sickly neon? Do you think a local petco would want to take in a diseased fish that could contaminate there others? Is it a crime to feed an oscar feeder fish? I wouldn't keep tropical fish if I didn't care for them. I am alittle upset that I am getting as much heat for this as I am. If I had the supplies to treat the pleco I would definently do so. I can't justify spending the money on a new tank and supplies to treat 1 fish. Again im sorry if I offended anyone as im trying to be realistic. I will be glad to give the pleco to anyone who wants to take the time to treat him.

 

[PermanentXHate]

Wow that's harsh killing an animal because you can't be bothered to treat it. Lucky your parents didn't feel that way when you got the flu as a kid. Life is valuable even if it is just the life of a fish. Very sad.

Would you spend $80 to purchase the supplies to nurse back a sickly neon? Do you think a local petco would want to take in a diseased fish that could contaminate there others? Is it a crime to feed an oscar feeder fish? I wouldn't keep tropical fish if I didn't care for them. I am alittle upset that I am getting as much heat for this as I am. If I had the supplies to treat the pleco I would definently do so. I can't justify spending the money on a new tank and supplies to treat 1 fish. Again im sorry if I offended anyone as im trying to be realistic. I will be glad to give the pleco to anyone who wants to take the time to treat him.

actually, my lfs would be more than pleased to take a sickly fish treat it for me/help me get the stuff to treat it and give it back to me. if you feel so bad about it then why even mention doing it? put him on craigslist or something and maybe someone who actually cares would buy it. hell if you lived close enough to me i would take it

and FYI i would spend WHATEVER it takes to nurse back any fish. as any TRUE fish keeper parent would do.

 

[Chartreux03]

If anybody knows could they kindly answer my question regarding if the tank would still carry disease after the pleco is removed from the tank? On a side note I will gladly package the pleco and ship him overnight with heat packs to someone willing to take on the expence. If not I will call some local fish stores and see if they would be interested.

 

[WILDER]

Water changes help keep bacteria in the background.
Please don't put the plec down it deserves to be treated and have a life.
Take it to the lfs they will probably treat it if you give it away free.