Sick Pleco?? Ewww. Help. Pix

[tunedis95]

I have two of them. This guy started getting these red spots all over his body, I have him quarantened but just kinda worried. What is it??? This is my first sick fish since I've had my aquariums.

[moganman]

How often do you do water changes?

[aquabee]

It almost looks like he's burned, like his scales are missing. Water params ok? Any new chemicals added, anyone else sick or acting weird?

[tunedis95]

Tank has not been altered in ant way since set up a year ago. The only thing I am lax on is the water changes on this tank. Now that it was brought up, im going to start doing it as often as I do the big tank. This was the only fish with this and I have to identical Algae eaters. This guy just died this morning, so I guess that fix that problem.

[aquabee]

Oh man. Sorry to hear. How's the other one doing?

My plecos absolutely hate nitrates. I've noticed that if I ever let the nitrate get to even 5-10 ppm, they start acting funny. As soon as I do a water change, they go right back to normal.

[mnemenoi]

Oh man. Sorry to hear. How's the other one doing?

My plecos absolutely hate nitrates. I've noticed that if I ever let the nitrate get to even 5-10 ppm, they start acting funny. As soon as I do a water change, they go right back to normal.

+1 on plecos hating nitrates. Looking at the pics and going beyond water quality being the issue, my only guess would be a bacterial infection of some type. It could be simply effecting this one lone inhabitant or could have spread in the tank. I'd keep up water changes and be watchful for any others exhibiting any symptoms. Perhaps it was a high nitrate level that stressed its immune system and eventually lead to an infection, it seems to be the most logical idea in my mind. Good luck with your others and hopefully you've gotten to the source of its issue.

[moganman]

I bet it needs a water change.

[tunedis95]

The other one died this morning. He had that redness on his underbelly. Darn. All my fry in the tank are fine...I'll tackle water changes on the small tank more often. Was getting to confident with that small tank.