I had an 8 year old common pleco that was about 11 inches long in a 55 gallon tank with various african chiclids. He was fed algae discs, cucumber and spinach and appeared to be in good health. The pH was 6.5 and the temp 72 degrees. He all of a sudden began swimming upside down and then floating vertically as if he was levitating. He then began gulping sporradically and developed bright red patches all over his body that were hot to the touch (almost like ruptured capillaries) but he did not go to the surface for air like plecos sometimes do. He died that night, but all of my other fish were not affected, it has been two weeks and they are fine, the filter is clean, the ammonia and nitrate levels are clean and the other fish have no paraties. What happened to my pleco?
2007-01-01 13:58:40 · 4 answers · asked by ml_lansing 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
There is a disease called septicemia that presents in the manner of red patches. The fish is actually bleeding under the skin.
The disease is caused by a bacteria that attacks vascular walls, not unlike the Ebola virus and other hemorrhagic fevers. Once established in the fish's body, it travels very quickly through the circulatory system and attacks the blood vessel and the heart. This debilitates the fish, but takes an excruciatingly long time to kill it, for it takes many days to completely destroy the circulatory system. This causes the following symptoms:
Apparently broken blood vessels in fins and extremities
Splotches of red, especially under the gill plates
Steadily increasing lethargy.
The only treatment I've heard of is Maracyn-2. This should most definitely be administered in a quarantine tank, as septicemia is supposedly contagious.
Apparently there must be a wound or some sort of stress factor for it to get established. Irreversible damage and death can be caused without prompt treatment.
Sorry for your loss.
2007-01-01 14:10:17 · answer #1 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe-
Q: The fish has bloody patches on the skin as if it were sanded or scraped off.
A: Your fish are affected by a Costia infestation. (Ichthyobodo).
Treatment: Treat the fish with Acriflavine Neutral -or- Copper Sulfate.
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or an external bacteria disease
2007-01-01 22:07:10 · answer #2 · answered by raz p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting. I haven't heard of this before.
2007-01-01 22:06:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
wow.. cool story.
it could have been poisoned or suicide.
hmmm.. it could be a weird virus that only affect plecos.
2007-01-01 22:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋