Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Hey, Please can anyone help with this issue one of my brothers Chocolate Zebra Plecos died today, I didn't see it myself but was told it had like a slime coating on it, he has 2 others in this tank and want to try and find something to save the rest of them.... Can anyone give me some advise on this please?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Has the Pleco been acting strange over the past few days?? Any open wounds on him ?? What other Fish are in the same tank as the Pleco?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 What are the tank water conditions like? Ammonia? Nitrate? Ph? When was the last water change done? How often is the water changed and what percentage? How big is the tank? What is the tanks usual and current temp? Its hard to help you without any information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Other fish are 2 Choc zebras 2 bristlenose 1 swordtail and 1 kribensis the other krib died last night.... Waterchange was done lastnight 14-15L Tank size 60L Sorry not sure about water parameters will check and let you know... The krib and swordtail have clamped fins and not looking happy....apparently for a few days Zebras haven't been eating much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Goodness me, I wouldn't be putting a PLeco of that size in 60Ltrs Water Parameters would be good too know, will wait for you to post them> How often are Water Changes done?? Has the Tank been dosed with any Meds lately?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Goodness me, I wouldn't be putting a PLeco of that size in 60Ltrs :-? they arent big plecos... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Clamped fins is never a good sign. I would do a 50% water change today and another tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 They are small plecos only grow to around 10cm at the moment they are around 6cm...... Will let you know the water parameters as soon as possible.... I was thinking possibly ammonia is too high......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Water changes are done weekly............ Generally around 10-20 litres at a time.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 My brother has put in Wunder tonic this morning in hope it will help I suggested to pick up my Furan2 and malefix but as he as work now can't until tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Any ammonia is too much. An ammonia test should read 0.0 in a cycled tank. Clamped fins is a sign of stress caused by ammonia as well as other things. I would definitely do a 50% water change today and tomorrow. Even if its not an ammonia problem a couple of good water changes can only do good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Yea you're definately right about that...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 My brother has put in Wunder tonic this morning in hope it will help I suggested to pick up my Furan2 and malefix but as he as work now can't until tonight... In my opinion there is no need for any meds until you a definite diagnosis. You will be just waisting your money. Water changes along with a handful of rock salt are your best friends at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 I told him that, but he is very over precautios as he has a lot of issues with diseases lately.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 I told him that, but he is very over precautios as he has a lot of issues with diseases lately.... Most likely cause is ammonia, and no medication will fix this, Just do more frequent waterchages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 That's what I thought..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 NEVER add medications when you have no idea of the cause of death. NEVER mix medications. If you have added tonic or something, DO NOT add anything else! 99% of deaths are caused by poor, or incorrect, water conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 you can use a nitra-zorb sachet to help suck up any excess ammonia in a pinch, I think it will suck up some of your meds though. And biochem-zorb will definitely suck up any meds you want to get rid of. I'd make sure there was plenty of air getting in there too to help break down the nasties and to make sure the fish can breathe. Kinda like putting an oxygen mask on a sick person Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 you can use a nitra-zorb sachet to help suck up any excess ammonia in a pinch, I think it will suck up some of your meds though. And biochem-zorb will definitely suck up any meds you want to get rid of. I'd make sure there was plenty of air getting in there too to help break down the nasties and to make sure the fish can breathe. Kinda like putting an oxygen mask on a sick person Now that was a good way of looking at it, an Air stone to a Fishy, is like an Oxygen Mask to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Awesome thanks for the advice I will go pick some up for him now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Ok Now all the chocolate zebras have died and swordtail..... So that's 5 out of 8 that have died in one day........ I think the ammonia is way too high and left over food has gone toxic........ 75% water change was done............... Another water change will be done tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Sorry to hear that. Do you have a quarantine tank that you can move the survivors to? If so it would be a good idea until you get the main tank sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 sigh... that really sucks a lot. sorry to hear about the choc zebras as mentioned before any detectable ammonia is too much - just to be on the safe side. but if this ever happens again you can always use ammolock- that is if you know the ammonia is off the charts. It instantly detoxifies the ammonia present and then you can do WC's to fix the problem. just remember that something like that does not fix the problem, it just masks it. so your best option is to make sure there is no ammonia in the tank in the first place. safest bet is to have a qt tank that is cycled so you can chuck fish in there if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyruby Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 yes he does have a quarantine tank, they rest of the fish are in there now, still not looking very good tho..... Will see how they are in the morning.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 The other safest thing to do to prevent this happening again is, Regular Water Changes, this is most important. Level's of ammonia should never be allowed to build up to the level of becoming Toxic to the Fish. Good Luck with the Fish you have left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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