Help with Pleco

[michael lai]

Hi Guys,
I've got a friend whose pleco is afflicted with a strange disease. It starts with a white patch and then it spreads to other parts of the body.( white patches )it seems fatality for this disease is very high. Can any pleco expert out there share some of their experiences or how to cure it. Panic station now as the fish is quite costly. Thanks.

[bossteck]

Hi,

You might want to get your friend to try posting his query on plecofanatics.com

Hope the little fella pull through.

[michael lai]

Hi Eric,
Thanks but I think he probably did already. It's a collector's specimen that came at a princely sum. I'm just trying to spread the net to see if anyone got other experiences or methods of treatment. It's very dear to him so I'm just helping whatever ways I can.

[gummynut]

any updates on the pleco? you got me anxious too, especially when the fish means alot. rare specimen?

[michael lai]

Hi Gummynut,
It is a Panaq plague! No one has found any cure yet nor the reason why and how it occurs. Mortality rate for this disease is extremely high, you got about 1 week before all is lost. Most of the Royal Pleco collectors have had at least 1 or 2 major attack. It seems only a handful of people in the world has ever had some form of luck towards this disease. Anyway, if you are curious? The prized specimen is a blue eye Panaq, sought after by alot of serious collectors. I'm actually doing a little research on the disease maybe if you happen to come across something like this you could give me a thinker...
The fish was lost by the third day I think....

[valice]

Mike, does this plague only affects Panaques? It seems like my bristlenose is having a bit of these white patches... And is it similar to skin flukes?

[michael lai]

Valice, it affects all plecos but I have heard that L190 and L330 is immune to it. The bristlenose's I think is quite common, maybe you can try melafix first. Quite effective against it. No, it is not like skin flukes, affected fish will get spots and the spots will spread and then it rots...quite gross. PS: Bristlenose got body colouration just like that, make sure it's a infection not the colour.

[valice]

Will observe my bristlenose over the next few days in the quarantine tank...

[michael lai]

Valice, if my memory serve me correct, bristlenose the area around the dorsal fin, there is a white patch which is body colouration. Observe the tummy and eyes of your plecos, if they are sunken in. It is a sign of danger and the fish should be avoided.

[lyh]

Hi Michael when the disease broke out recently in one of the pleco keepers tank I went around to ask for solution from LFS. One LFS told me to do large water change and add black water extract. Don't know how true is this. Kent from Joy Aqurium managed to save his Peru Green maybe you want to check from him? Hope this helps in your research for the solution.

[michael lai]

Hi LYH,
Yes, this is one of the prescribed method of halting the infection. There were others but not proven. I will try to at least establish the causing 'agent' and treatments that have work before. I am also following up on a lead, suspect 'columnaris mutation'. This is going to take some time but I will post the study once it's complete for the benefit of others. Thank you and if you have anymore information please give me a headsup.

The large water change is to prevent the bacterial from propagating, Black water extract is a anti-oxitant. The theory behind this is to create a very clean environment and hopefully the affected fish's immune system can take over from there and heal itself. Please note this does not work everytime but it's the only method known to us now. Periodically use of a UV steriliser is also recommended and has shown it helps.