Oscar scratches? Pleco attack? Not sure need help

[Pikuldude]

Hey guys so over the last 3 days my ocaar has gotten a scratch on his gill his side the next day and now today 2 holes I was thinking it might be the pleco attacking him at night the pleco is big over 10 inches he's about 7 inches in length water parameters our

PH 7.2

Ammonia 0 

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 15 to 20 ppm n

Temp 78

75 gallon 

Did a water change and added alittle salt but not sure how to even go about getting rid of a pleco of this size I dont want to just give it to petco because I know it'll die most likely but there's no mom and pop aquarium shops near me.. any advice helps thank you.

[Fish Folk]

The head marks look like hole-in-head disease. With larger cichlid’s, this comes and goes pretty frequently, especially if they’re under stress.

The body gash looks like an abrasion from Hardscape.

 It is very possible your Pleco is getting naughty. For short term, I’d buy some light diffuser pieces, and cut / zip tie them into a tank divider. I get them at Lowes.

WalMart carries suction cup holders for using them as tank dividers if you want a very neat look. You may need to special order them online.

This will at least provide you with time to think through what to really do. If your Oscar heals in a few weeks and doesn’t show signs of more stress / attacks, I think you’re going to have to consider a long term plan to separate them.

Edited April 4, 2022 by Fish Folk

[Pikuldude]

On 4/4/2022 at 10:37 AM, Fish Folk said:

The head marks look like hole-in-head disease. With larger cichlid’s, this comes and goes pretty frequently, especially if they’re under stress.

The body gash looks like an abrasion from Hardscape.

 It is very possible your Pleco is getting naughty. For short term, I’d buy some light diffuser pieces, and cut / zip tie them into a tank divider. I get them at Lowes.

WalMart carries suction cup holders for using them as tank dividers if you want a very neat look. You may need to special order them online.

This will at least provide you with time to think through what to really do. If your Oscar heals in a few weeks and doesn’t show signs of more stress / attacks, I think you’re going to have to consider a long term plan to separate them.

Thank you so much for the reply yes I'm definitely going to have to separate them I see the pleco chasing him at night but I'm sure the Oscar isn't all innocent either I've seen him nip once or twice lol but as far as the hole in the head disease goes is there anything I can do for him or is it just stress related? 

[Fish Folk]

On 4/4/2022 at 11:06 AM, Pikuldude said:

as far as the hole in the head disease goes is there anything I can do for him or is it just stress related?

I suspect it is mostly brought on by stress. Do a regular schedule of water changes. Feed some quality foods. Should recover reasonably soon. If it looks like it’s getting worse and worse after a few weeks, you’ll need to consider medication. But my Acaras get pitting in the head and heal within a few days. Definitely stress related.

[Pikuldude]

On 4/4/2022 at 11:19 AM, Fish Folk said:

I suspect it is mostly brought on by stress. Do a regular schedule of water changes. Feed some quality foods. Should recover reasonably soon. If it looks like it’s getting worse and worse after a few weeks, you’ll need to consider medication. But my Acaras get pitting in the head and heal within a few days. Definitely stress related.

Thank you!

[Colu]

Most cases of hole the head are bought on by a combination of poor diet poor water quality and Hexamita parasites the best treatment metronidazole that the active ingredient in seachems metroplex in food or you can treat with general cure or paracleanse