Black spots on my Pleco

[rommel39]

The light in my tank is always off in the morning when I first get up, so when I came home today and saw that my rubberlip pleco was "chillin" out ontop of his cuke slice that I had left for him last night I was not upset. That is until I tried to take the cuke slice out with a piece of string that I had attached to it. He would not get off the slice and when I finally got the slice out and I looked at him closely I noticed on his/her head were some black spots or markings. I have never some them before. And while is is alive he is pretty much staying in one place and he is lying right out in th open on the gravel not moving a bunch until I sit and stare at him.
Does anybody have any idea what could be wrong with him? The only thing different that has happened is I added some new platties in the tank from PetSmart last night, but I dunno. Please for all the advice in advance.

 

[Pure]

could it just be his natural markings? http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/chaetost/308_F.PHP

 

[rommel39]

No, this black marks are much larger and not in a "pattern" like the pictures in the link, plus I don't remember him having those markings before. And his total lack of energy concerns me. But thanks for you quick reply.

 

[rommel39]

Here's a picture

 

[thelovelydove]

Hi, I'm replying on behalf of rommel39, whose cyberweb connection is currently on the fritz. We think Bubba-J might have black spot, which is caused by a fluke that can be introduced to the tank by new fish, and which appears to be relatively harmless. Recommended treatment - nothing or maracide. What do you guys think?

 

[rommel39]

Anybody have any ideas? Thoughts?

 

[Lotus]

Are there any spots on his fins? Do they look like cysts? It's hard to see in your picture exactly what it is.

Maracide can be risky with scaleless fish. If you do decide to do it, add the dose slowly, starting with 1/4 dose, and add 1/4 more every 8 hours until you're at full dose. That way, if the fish start to show stress, you can do an emergency water change.

I've had good results with Coppersafe using the above method with loaches and other sensitive fish. Coppersafe can have long-term effects on your plants, though, and you need to remove it through water changes.

If it's a parasite/fluke, you should treat the whole tank.

 

[rommel39]

Lotus,

There are no spots on his fins and they don't look like cysts.

I did not know that Maracide was unsafe for scaleless fish and I added a full dose last night. As far as I can tell everyone is okay. The rubberlipp has gotten off the ground and has been in the same spot on the wall of the fish tank all day.

I had heard however that Coppersafe was unsafe for scaleless fish.

I was reading online last night about fish diseases and came across "black ich". Do you think this could be a case of it? Thanks for you help

 

[Lotus]

What exactly do the spots look like?

There seems to be a rash of "Internet diseases" that come up I sometimes think people make up these names or diseases.

The closest I could find is black spot. The book I have says that it usually goes away with time, as the lifecycle can't be completed in an aquarium situation (part of the lifecycle involves birds). The book says that it's hard to treat it, so if it is black spot, don't be surprised if the Maracide doesn't help. Of course, we don't have a complete diagnosis that it is black spot.

 

[rommel39]

It's just like a black smug on his face. It really does not look a whole lot different than than crappy picture I took. If you want I can email you the full size pic.

 

[Lotus]

Is it slimey looking, or lumpy?

It could be fungal or bacterial.

I'll PM you my e-mail address.

 

[bj240z]

It's just like a black smug on his face. It really does not look a whole lot different than than crappy picture I took. If you want I can email you the full size pic.

Hi Rommel...

I've just purchased three Gold Spot Pleco's and the largest of three has, within the last 12hrs, developed two black spots along the side of "her" body. One is quite large, probably about 6mm long and 2mm wide, the other is just a small dot the size of about 1/16th inch.

These came on pretty suddenly, and this was one of the only places google could find that seemed to have some pics of what my new pleco's have.

Any feedback on what the outcome/treatment of your plec's would be appreciated.

BJ