|
|
Post by brenda on Apr 27, 2009 18:43:50 GMT -5
3 of the 4 bristlenose plecos I got have died...They would seem totally fine then be dead and look like this. WTH?  No other fish are sick. I have never seen such a thing.   |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Apr 27, 2009 19:29:18 GMT -5
First, sorry to read this Brenda. The first thought is since these were new acquisitions (if I am correct), these guys came in with a problem, possibly an internal nematode as the upside down one in your picture seems somewhat thin in the belly, assuming this is not as a result of death itself. You could treat for this, but I would recommend doing this in an isolation tank with products such as Jungle Parasite Clear. I have seen this happen with Plecs in particular where I would get a shipment in, only to see the majority die this way. In performing a Necropsy on some I often would find a nematode, however often I would also find nothing, leaving their death as a mystery for me, although I would suspect the possibility of bad handling along the way since most plecs (at least that I received) were wild caught and often had much more handling than those bred in captivity. Poor handling could result in ammonia/nitrite poisoning, osmotic shock that could severely or terminally damage internal organs such as the kidneys. A bath using Methylene Blue and Metronidazole may help for this as well (my results were mixed and I generally faired better when caught early and this was rarely the case that I would notice a problem early enough) Carl |
|
|
|
Post by brenda on Apr 27, 2009 19:35:24 GMT -5
My last one is alive and stuck to the side wall of the tank but I can see him starting to brown up as well. It is just the weirdest thing I have seen. I really don't know if they eat...I do put food in for them but have never actually seen them eat. What causes the brown coloring all the way around their body?
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Apr 27, 2009 19:43:35 GMT -5
My guess is this is actually dying tissue, either from the fish dying from malnutrition form the Nematodes or from disease inside the body ( Ichthyophonus can cause this as well). Carl |
|
|
|
Post by kagome on Apr 28, 2009 0:03:06 GMT -5
I'm very sorry to read that you have lost the new plecos, I know that you are very fond of these guys. I too have had problems with buying plecos that were infected with nasty stuff. That is how that horrible strep came in. I really sympathize with your loss.
How I've always checked to make sure that my plecos were eating was to always put the algae wafers in there as soon as I turned out the light. Then I would make sure that I had a lamp on near the tank, not close enough to bother the pleco, just enough so that it was like dusk or twilight light levels in my tank. Then I would sit very still and wait for them to come out of their hiding places and find the algae wafer and eat. Usually this would only take five minutes at the very most.
I hope your last bushy nose makes it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Apr 28, 2009 14:15:51 GMT -5
Brenda...I am sorry you have lost your fish. I only have 1 common pleco so I can't even suggest anything...this is the first one I have not killed  Good luck on your last guy! |
|
|
|
Post by barbara on Apr 28, 2009 14:20:53 GMT -5
I unfortunately kill a lot of bristlenose and small catfish. I'm not really sure why, as they are bred in the same water perimeters as I keep them. I wanted to use bristlenose fry as a help for extra food in my fry tanks, but I lost a bunch of them. I probably won't get any more. I have no help for you, Brenda, but you do know how many bottom feeders I tend to kill.
|
|
|
|
Post by eve on Apr 28, 2009 14:27:40 GMT -5
i had only luck with 1 bristlenose so far, and that one was already a semi adult size all the others i bought after wards, where dead in a matter of 2 weeks  |
|
|
|
Post by murdock6701 on Apr 28, 2009 16:16:40 GMT -5
I have recently "gone thruogh" 2 small plecos (common) that I put in my platy fry tank - I figured the small ones wouls avoid killing or injuring the fry w/ the normal "thrashing" a regular pleco has a tendency to do at night - bear in mind, I have always kept the common ones - I finally managed to find some bristlenose 3 weeks ago but they looked so poor I didn't but them - makes you wonder?
|
|
|
|
Post by goldenpuon on Apr 28, 2009 16:38:38 GMT -5
I'm really sorry to hear that they died Brenda. I have never seen anything like this. If it's not nematodes, could it be some kind of poisoning? Also, what span of tiem did they die over? I wish you luck with your last fish. I really hope he makes it.
|
|
|
|
Post by kagome on Apr 28, 2009 17:38:58 GMT -5
Brenda, is there possibly a local pleco breeder group in your area? Perhaps you would have better luck if you were able to buy locally bred plecos that have not gone through rough shipping. I am so lucky that one of my local LFS's buys their fancy plecos from local breeders and so I have had really good luck buying from them.
|
|
|
|
Post by brenda on Apr 28, 2009 18:34:27 GMT -5
These were from a local source...I got them at my club auction? ? I have only had them since the 28th of March. I hope it isn't a fact of them not eating...I would feel horrible if I killed them. They looked to be in great condition at the auction and they still look good but one thing I am not is a pleco expert. I only have the 1 left so we will see. I doubt poisoning as they were in my baby tanks and I have not lost any babies, just them. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Apr 28, 2009 19:35:46 GMT -5
Were these tank raised Brenda?
I assumed they were imported.
As well I would not beat yourself up about not eating, as this happens and unfortunately this may be what happened (the coloration change is quite possible decaying/dying tissue.
Anyway, I am still sorry about this and I wish I could give better advice,
Carl
|
|
|
|
Post by kagome on Apr 29, 2009 1:05:15 GMT -5
Does the one that's still alive have a flat belly? If you're not sure try and get a picture of him while he's stuck on the front glass and I'll take a look. Bushynose tend to be less timid so maybe tempt him with blanched zucchini in a veggie clip and see if he goes for it. If he turns his nose up at zucchini then he is definitely sick with something, they love that stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Apr 29, 2009 8:56:33 GMT -5
Does the one that's still alive have a flat belly? If you're not sure try and get a picture of him while he's stuck on the front glass and I'll take a look. Bushynose tend to be less timid so maybe tempt him with blanched zucchini in a veggie clip and see if he goes for it. If he turns his nose up at zucchini then he is definitely sick with something, they love that stuff. Not much to add rather than to second this idea, as I think this a good one, if only to narrow down the possible problem. You might do this in the evening if this is when he is most active. Carl |
|
Or please consider a donation, even just $5 helps. If even 25% of users of this information donated just $5, it would be more income than one year of sales (currently less than 1/1000 of a % donate)
No other fish are sick. I have never seen such a thing.
