pleco

Question

pleco   QUESTION: I have a pleco. He's about four years old, and about 10-11 inches long. Recently I noticed something spongy looking around his mouth. I think maybe he nipped his lip eating seaweed off the filter tube and it got infected. I did a 50% water change and added aquarium salt, and have been putting maracyn in the tank since Tuesday. He's been behaving ok up until tonight, where he looks listless, one of his horns looks pink inside, and the other looks cloudy. I'm really concerned because I'd really hate to lose him. He's the only one in the tank.

ANSWER: Lori,  Stop the Marycin he is having some kind of reaction to it. Was this your first time adding salt if it was I would do a water change and thin that out. Sometimes it's better to add gradually. Do the water change to get the medication out also. Before we go heavy duty antibiotic on him lets try something all natural and a little milder. Go get Melafix. It is a broad spectrum antibiotic made from tea trees in Australia. Because you are adding a natural with a chemical antibiotic if your water gets a pink tinge don't worry it will go away. It probably won't happen but, may. Do not forget to take your carbon out of your filter. He is just beautiful by the way and very young yet. Please keep me updated on how he is doing. Good Luck, Tina

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Last night after I submitted my question, we went out and got stress coat and melafix. I did a 50% water change and replaced the carbon filter to remove some of the salt and the maracyn. He seems perkier today, and he ate this morning. I did not add the melafix because I read that it can harm the pleco. If I give him the melafix in half doses, will it help remove the fungus on his lip? Is it going to hurt him, as I read? Will I need to do another water change, and when?

Answer
Lori, The Melafix is fine you may be confusing it with Malachite...I don't know. If you are worried, which I understand completely I know how close we get to our babies' use Jungle. I usually don't recommend them because for a serious problem their meds are not strong enough. Get the fungal cure tablets. Break it up a little because he will try to eat it while it dissolves...lol If he nibbles on some it is OK. It will be a good first dose for him. Do not forget to take your carbon out of your filter completely for the whole 5 to 7 days. It will filter out this medication quite fast. Let me know how he does. Good Luck, Tina