Saltinthedesert Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 I recently merged 2x 29g tanks into one 75g and just before I transferred my breeding pair of BN plecos, I noticed the male was SUPER bloated in his belly. The pics are before and after, but I don’t have a great one of him inflated. I tried giving him a shelled pea (a common remedy for constipation) but he’s not interested thus far. I’ve read dozens of blog and forum posts about salt being helpful but also dangerous for scale-less species. Many suggest halving the dose but few say what a safe dose is. If I was going to treat him in a 5 gallon hospital tank, how much salt, how often, and how long? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 It difficult to tell what is going on from the pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share Posted December 28, 2020 These are a bit better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share Posted December 28, 2020 Again, “normal” is the pic above on the colored gravel. Not sure why the forum flipped the image but it is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share Posted December 28, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 cant say what is wrong with it, but even his eyes are bugging out from whatever it is. at the point that fish is in, i would try about anything, as i dont think it will make it much longer without help. 1-3 tablespoons of salt per gallon are the common remedies, with as far as it is along id probably start at 2 , and see if it does anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share Posted December 28, 2020 Alright. Moved him to a salt bath. Here’s hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) It look like a nasty bacterial infection I would start treatment with maracyn and salt 1table spoon for 2gallon you might have do two courses of maracyn if you see no improvement with maracyn try maracyn2 one treats gram positive and treats gram negative bacterial infection 6 hours ago, Saltinthedesert said: These are a bit better. Edited December 28, 2020 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 29, 2020 Author Share Posted December 29, 2020 Eyes have definitely gone down. Belly is still pretty round but not inflated like yesterday. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 It will take a maybe a week of treatment before you see a marked improvement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted December 29, 2020 Author Share Posted December 29, 2020 I would consider what I’m seeing now a marked improvement! 55 minutes ago, Colu said: It will take a maybe a week of treatment before you see a marked improvement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Hopefully it all works out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted January 7, 2021 Author Share Posted January 7, 2021 Update. He survived a week in the salt bath. Put him in a breeder box to help transition back into the 75. He ate some zucchini, so I put him back in the tank. 24 hours later, his back and dorsal fin have a white marking he didn’t have previously. Is this infection or just healing process from whatever he had before? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted January 9, 2021 Author Share Posted January 9, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 It looks like fin rot white patch on it back could secondary fungal infection I would treat with API fungus cure and aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 2 gallons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 Full recovery. Doing well and eating again. Salt bath for a few days shrunk him down considerably but his color is back and the white markings are now fully gone. Thanks y’all. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Good to hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryC Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Wow what an absolute improvement, and a testament of both pleco's resilience and wonders of aquarium salt. It's night and day! Job well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 glad to see that fish doing better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aralia Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 13 hours ago, Saltinthedesert said: Full recovery. Doing well and eating again. Salt bath for a few days shrunk him down considerably but his color is back and the white markings are now fully gone. Thanks y’all. Great to see they are doing better. What ratio of salt did you end up using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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