Can a plecostomus contract Flexibacter columnaris from a Red Oscar fish?

Question

They were in the same tank until the Oscar died, and although my plecostomus isn't showing any signs of being sick I'm not sure if he's okay.

Answer 1

Yep, I'd treat the tank, filters and all. It will ruin the cycle but columnaris is pretty deadly if not caught in time.

Answer 2

Columnaris affects the whole system so everybody in it is in danger. Usually fish can fight it on their own if they are healthy and in clean stable water. You have an outbreak of it you need to water change, your water is bad somehow. Find out what the underlying problem is with the water. Pleco's are pretty tough. He's just healthier than your Oscar was. Fix the water before you waste your money on a new oscar.

Answer 3

There are countless South American cichlids that should be ok. Examples are Jack Dempseys, any of the greater beneficial acaras, severums, festivums, convicts, and firemouths. i would not propose maximum African cichlids, as many are much greater aggressive than the oscar. Plecos are often no concern with maximum fish. greater beneficial gouramis, like the blue, gold, and comparable could desire to additionally be ok, besides as medium length (mature) catfish. North American sunfish (which incorporate some basses) species in many circumstances stay in cooler waters than oscars, yet ought to in all danger tolerate temps as much as seventy six F or so, larger for short classes of time. N.A. bullhead and white catfish (no longer albino) additionally. Tinfoil barbs are training fish and can be stored in communities of a minimum of 6, in all danger too many on your tank. Silver money could desire to be ok, lower back in a team of a minimum of 6.

Answer 4

It is contagious. You can either wait to see if signs occur, or treat anyway as a precaution. Are you certain that it was columnaris, because fungus and columnaris are virtually identical, and yet, their treatment is somewhat different. Of course, it's better to treat for columnaris and have it be fungus, than treat for fungus and have it be columnaris.

Answer 5

pleco's are usually pretty hardy..depending on the species of course.

if you are wanting to be super sure, check out this site/forum, and perhaps you will be able to become better informed there.


http://www.plecofanatics.com


i would treat the tank though as it is a contagious disease.

if your pleco is the only fish left in the tank now, i would consider doing a thorough tank cleaning, and would quarantene the pleco before putting any other fish with him, or visa versa