Megan111
09-06-2012, 12:01 AM
Hello,
I realize this site is not about Pleco's, but I need some experienced fish people to lend me some advice. I have a 10 gallon tank that I kept one pleco and two goldfish in for about a year before the goldfish were beginning to outgrow the tank. They were all moved to a friends indoor pond, the tank was emptied, but I kept all the items including the gravel. I didnt clean anything because I wanted to keep all the established bacteria etc. I moved across the country and the tank was empty for about 1 week before I re-set the tank up. I bought a heater with the intention of stocking my tank with some guppies or tetras. After it ran for a couple of days I bought a beautiful little pleco. He has been super happy, swimming around, his spots were bright and he appeared healthy. After I let him settle in for two days I went to another store and saw the brackish water figure 8 puffers. I was told that a table spoon of salt every three weeks would benefit my pleco and allow me to put a few of these guys in the tank, but no other fish. I bought three little puffers and brought them home. I added the salt slowly, the temperature is at 78 degrees, I let them adjust in the bag for an hour before adding some of my tank water to their water and letting them adjust for another hour. I added them to the tank and they were super fun and seemed happy. They ate some blood worms, my pleco didnt mind them he hung out and wandered around the tank as usual. About 24 hours later all the puffers died within a few minutes of eachother, and without much warning. They started bumping into the things and then they were all belly up. I am obviously unhappy, but I checked my pleco and he seemed alright. I havent acquired any more fish, but its been another day and now my pleco has a greenish grey, dusty, fungus-looking patches on his back. There is also cloudy stuff floating around my tank, it looks like chunks of snot, its a little stringy, and my filter has lots of it stuck to it. I dont know whether to medicate sir Plexington, and if so what medication and at what concentration/dose? I dont know whether to change the water, and if so how much? I dont want to go back to the place that talked me into the puffers, research has indicated I had neither the room nor the conditions suitable for them. I feel terrible! I do really like my pleco though, and I would really like to make him well. He is still active, his gills seem fine, he doesnt appear to be breathing heavily, but he has something nasty growing on him, and its taking over my tank. What to do? I would like to add a couple of guppies, but this obviously needs to be sorted out first.
Thank you in advance!
I realize this site is not about Pleco's, but I need some experienced fish people to lend me some advice. I have a 10 gallon tank that I kept one pleco and two goldfish in for about a year before the goldfish were beginning to outgrow the tank. They were all moved to a friends indoor pond, the tank was emptied, but I kept all the items including the gravel. I didnt clean anything because I wanted to keep all the established bacteria etc. I moved across the country and the tank was empty for about 1 week before I re-set the tank up. I bought a heater with the intention of stocking my tank with some guppies or tetras. After it ran for a couple of days I bought a beautiful little pleco. He has been super happy, swimming around, his spots were bright and he appeared healthy. After I let him settle in for two days I went to another store and saw the brackish water figure 8 puffers. I was told that a table spoon of salt every three weeks would benefit my pleco and allow me to put a few of these guys in the tank, but no other fish. I bought three little puffers and brought them home. I added the salt slowly, the temperature is at 78 degrees, I let them adjust in the bag for an hour before adding some of my tank water to their water and letting them adjust for another hour. I added them to the tank and they were super fun and seemed happy. They ate some blood worms, my pleco didnt mind them he hung out and wandered around the tank as usual. About 24 hours later all the puffers died within a few minutes of eachother, and without much warning. They started bumping into the things and then they were all belly up. I am obviously unhappy, but I checked my pleco and he seemed alright. I havent acquired any more fish, but its been another day and now my pleco has a greenish grey, dusty, fungus-looking patches on his back. There is also cloudy stuff floating around my tank, it looks like chunks of snot, its a little stringy, and my filter has lots of it stuck to it. I dont know whether to medicate sir Plexington, and if so what medication and at what concentration/dose? I dont know whether to change the water, and if so how much? I dont want to go back to the place that talked me into the puffers, research has indicated I had neither the room nor the conditions suitable for them. I feel terrible! I do really like my pleco though, and I would really like to make him well. He is still active, his gills seem fine, he doesnt appear to be breathing heavily, but he has something nasty growing on him, and its taking over my tank. What to do? I would like to add a couple of guppies, but this obviously needs to be sorted out first.
Thank you in advance!