My medusa head

[Earthgirl]

Hello, anyone!

So my Medusa has been fine up till now, or has he.
I came home form work today and the bugger was upside down. So I flipped him over and did an immediate water change, about 20%. While I am doing the emergency bucket birgade, I am on the phone with the LFS (and I asked for someone experienced). He asked me what my temp was so I told him, "the normal, about 24,25". Then I looked at it, it was 21. AHHHHHHHHH, no!
So he said to turn it up to make it least 28-29. Uhm. ok. Turn up the temp. All my measurments are completely noramal, nitratate ok, nitrites 0, ph about 6.8. I dunno know?
He is stopped the laboured breathing now, but still has kinda cloudy eyes. Not completely blue-ish tinge, but close. He is on the bottom on the sand, you know not normal.
I need help!
I also read that they are carnivores, any body know anything about this?

PLEASE HELP!
I don't want to lose him
I am going to do another water change tomorwo, but other than that, I dunno know?
ANybody!

 

[SirMinion]

If he's breathing normally then you may have a chance. Unfortunately wild caught plecs often come with a belly full of paracites and the stress of being caught, shipped, and rehomed suppresses the immune system and the paracites take hold.

IF you can get him over the next two days, you may have a chance. It's important to resist the temptation to keep poking him to see iff he's alive and just let him chill.

Keep the light off in the tank for a while too. it will reduce stress and encourage feeding.

Yes, most ancistrus species need meaty foods as well as algae & veggies. Try dropping some (thawed) frozen bloodworm right in front of his nose.

Good luck!

 

[Earthgirl]

Thank you Sir, I seem to be thinking everything you have just suggested.
He thankful is breathing quite normally. I have turned off the light and have feed the bloodworms and shrimp (frozen, yet thawed, yum)
thank you again for the advice, you know my love for this particular pleco!

 

[Earthgirl]

He made it through night #1.
I did a water change again, another 20%. His breathing is seeming to be completely normalized. But he is still in the wide open space, not hiding.
I dunno know?
I don't know if he ate at all, I did try putting blood worms in front of him and the algae tablet around him was al messed up.
Any more suggestions Sir or anyone?

 

[samthefishman]

i would let nature take its course.
you have done everything you can, now its up to him to do some fightin.

 

[Earthgirl]

That's what I figured Sam, I just feel so helpless!

 

[SirMinion]

It wouldn't hurt to put some general antibacterial stuff in there. Like Melafix.

 

[Earthgirl]

Ok dokey, I tried that, now I get to play the waiting game!

 

[Earthgirl]

Ok, we made it through night 2. I have been adding the Melafix, increased temp, and checked all water meters and they are all ok.
Nothing new except that some darn fish has decided to make his dorsal and side fins a snack.
I don't have a hospital tank set up (on my list to do this month, I know ) but I can in a jiffy set up a little tank with my water from my big tank, buy a heater and have an airstone, that is no problem. SHould I start a fitler with some media from my big tank or just run the small tank with an airstone?
Should I even try moving him from the big tank to a smaller tank or would that kill him?
Somone please help, I have never had this problem with fish before, why now?

 

[SirMinion]

How big is this tank that you can use as a hospital? Beware small tanks for sick fish as the chemistry & temperature can fluctuate wildly in a tiny tank, making the fish more stressed.

Is it possible to leave him where he is and relocate the bitey fish instead?

If you do move him, then it would be best if the tank were filtered. Use media & water from his tank to get the new tank as much like the old as possible. Turn off the tank lights & dim the room lights before moving him and cover the hospital tank to keep it as dark as possible.

Aeration is vitally important because meds reduced the ability of the water to hold disolved oxygen, and ancistrus have a high oxygen demand even when healthy.

However, ensure that he is not being buffeted by the current as this will add to his stress.

Once again, good luck!

 

[Earthgirl]

I tried, I seriously tried everything in my power and knowledge (with Sir's help)
But he died at 2:15 this morning
He went very quitely, didn't seem to be struggling for air, just stopped breathing.
He didn't have a sunken belly, no other blemishes other than the torn fins.
He just, , slipped away.
Good bye my friend, and thanks for pleasure you brought!

I will never buy another wild caught ancistrus species again
my beautiful boy

what really sucks is that I really don't know why he died

 

[samthefishman]

nooooooooooooo
thats sucks i loved that fish...

 

[LadyMinion]

I'm so sorry earthgirl - you did everything you could but sometimes it just isn't meant to be.

Please don't fret over what you should/shouldn't have done. He's at peace now.

 

[Earthgirl]

Thank you both Sam and LadyMinion;
It does really suck when you have tried everything, and nothing.
But you are right Lady, he is in peace.
Still is hard to walk by the tank though

 

[SirMinion]

Damn damn damn damn damn.