Magnum Pleco Ill?

[stang1]

I've just noticed that my Magnum Pleco appears to have pale patches on his side. I've tried getting a decent picture but this is the best one I could get.

Water stats are:
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-10
PH-7.5

We do 15-20% water changes every week and it was only cleaned out yesterday. As you can see he's eating a wafer so feeding isn't a problem and he's swimming about ok. Didn't notice anything wrong with him yesterday but that's not to say the patches weren't there. They are more prominent on his other side but I can't get a picture of it.
We've had him for about four months now and he's about 2.5-3" long.
Unfortunately I can't quarantine him at the moment as we had a problem with our spare tank and it's not cycled yet.
Any help much appreciated,
Angie

 

[WILDER]

He's cute.
White patches can mean anything from parasites to bacterial infections.
Any fish flicking and rubbing on objects.
If not I would treat it as bacterial for now.
Not meant to sound awful stang1 but does he look abit thin to you.

 

[stang1]

Hi Wilder. He seems to be eating ok but he's such a tiny little thing. No signs of rubbing or flicking himself, behaving as he normally does.
I managed to get this photo a few minutes ago.

What would be the best thing to treat him with?

 

[WILDER]

There a patch on his head and on the fins it looks abit fluffy looks bacterial to me.
Check when he goes to the toilet, i had internal parasites with plecs, they will look thin or very skinny with a sunken in belly, and also they can look bloated.

 

[stang1]

I can't get a really good look at him at the moment, still stuck to the front of the tank. What would be the best treatment if it is bacterial?

 

[WILDER]

I would try myxazin and pimafix, good luck.

 

[stang1]

Thanks Wilder! I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[WILDER]

Stang1 just keep a look out for when he goes to the toilet, there could be a underlaying problem, good luck, but don't panic.

 

[stang1]

Will do. He's gone into hiding now but will keep a close eye on him.

 

[liz2]

Stang...thats just like my monster pleco I lost...just got monster catfish left that is nothing but a prob...snails in tank...cant put anything in with him as he dont attack but they go into panic mode must be the water.....would take him to a lfs but I dont like doing that...

 

[stang1]

Liz2, sounds like fun and games! What sort of catfish is he? I know we had a Synodontis Angelicus that we had to take back as we couldn't put anything in the tank as he tried to attack new mates.
Wilder, managed to quarantine him for the time being. Still seems to be ok but waiting for him to poop!!

 

[liz2]

Stang dunno what he is..terrible photo but had to catch him unawares. He is about 9 inches was tiny when we got him told he was upside down butterfly fish. He is not aggresive just the other fish are scared stiff of him

 

[WILDER]

Ok stang1 good luck.

 

[smithrc]

Last time you got a good look - were his eyes sunken? (they look like it in the side on piccy)

Looking at his belly I'd say hes a little on the thin side... now that hes seperated try feeding some high protean foods, try to fatten him up a bit.
Prawns, bloodworm that sort of thing...

You should be able to see if he's eating then

If not try a little garlic on the foods - I've never used it myself but it sounds lik a miricle cure if fish arnt eating.

 

[DiscusAngel]

Sorry to the person who origanally posted the comment but i am having trouble with my queen arabesc (PLEC) he wont eat!!! i put algae wafers in. and he used to go straight to them not he sits there and looks ive also tried feeding his favourite cucumber but i love this little gadet that kept it on the floor and cant keep the cucumber on the floor without it floating!

if you have any suggestions please let me know!