Pleco what is on his barbel? Advanced help needed

[Lpemb19]

Cross posted on planetcatfish with no help. They are some sort of ciliate or flagella organism I believe? Kite shaped armor plating or it really looks like brown coral. They don’t appear to be spreading according to my naked eye. Hasn’t appeared to spread. He had this when he was shipped to me from out of state. Has had them for roughly 8 months now. He had some sort of bacterial disease that tattered his fins and also had holes in his top fin and that cleared up with the MetroPlex treatment. I don’t even know what category these pests fall under so I cannot research the proper criteria for a diagnosis treatment plan.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I wish I could be more help, I have no idea. You could try some anti parasitic meds

 

[Rocky998]

Whoa... Yah, that's really weird. Hope it gets better.

Do you have any other photos to help more knowledgeable members help you? The more data they have the more they can help

 

[Rocky998]

Shoot, I forgot to tag @Byron
He may be able to help and offer good advice

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Yikes! Poor guy looks like he's been through it.
I don't know that we have anyone here anymore who is expert in pests and diseases I'm afraid. I'd recommend sending the photos and questions to the good folks at Wet Web Media, since they do have qualified and expert people there! Wishing you and your pleco luck!

 

[Lpemb19]

UPDATE: First off thank you all for your opinions on the matter it truly means a lot to me. Here’s my update: At this point Ive decided to start treating with PraziPro. Afterwards, I believe I will dose with antibiotics. I currently own Seachem NeoPlex, SulfaPlex, Kanaplex, Polyguard, MetroPlex, and Focus in powder form. Suggestions welcome. I also have liquid Cupramine recently in stock and Paraguard in liquid form. I have several corydoras I separated from him when I realized what was happening. (10g for now) I can’t tell if the 1 or 2 adult females I own are just fat and lazy, or the bunch could have possibly got infected with whatever the Pleco had. The males seem to swim around much more than those other two girls EVER did.

My guppies I have (55g) always had been together with this Pleco and have seem to possibly stop reproducing. I noticed just the other day. What do you all think? For me to have 25 females give or take, I haven’t had hardly any fry for the last couple months it seems or has really reduced in numbers. I have at anytime 2-5 males roughly anytime in the tank. I haven’t added any outside new blood line of guppy for almost a year now so I wonder if thats affecting fertility or it’s related to the other a possible disease/illness. Only guppies and pleco sharing the tank together with a couple mollies. 20% of the fish population has red swollen gills. Surely this isn’t some sort of anchor worm?