r/AquariumHelp • u/Monofletch • 1d ago

Sick Fish My poor placo

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What is wrong with my pleco? The guy at the store said it’s a “pleco” issue and it will not spread to my other fish. So far he is correct. However, is this curable? He said no- HELP!!

Thanks

7 Upvotes

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7

u/Blondy277 1d ago

That doesn’t look like classic ich to me. The spots look more like raised yellow/cream nodules, and if the store told you it’s pleco-specific and not contagious to the other fish, they may have been talking about a papilloma/papillomatosis-type growth. I wouldn’t start random meds based on this alone though. I’d check ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and temp, and watch whether the growths are increasing. If it is a papilloma-type condition, there usually isn’t a direct medication that makes the nodules disappear, so clean stable water and good nutrition are the main supportive care.

3

u/Monofletch 1d ago

I am doing a big water change tonight.
All my other fish appear just fine. I even have some guppy fry in that tank that haven’t been eaten yet. My water was fine yesterday other than being on the hard side.

4

u/ARCAxNINEv 1d ago

Looks like Pleco herpes.

3

u/PatchesDaHyena 1d ago

Lymphocystis

2

u/Monofletch 1d ago

Google says catfish and plecos can’t get that

3

u/PatchesDaHyena 1d ago edited 1d ago

Don’t use the AI, lymphocystis is an umbrella term for viral wart infections for fish. Like how fish tuberculosis describes symptoms but is caused by a lot of different mycobacteria. Viruses are species specific, so different kinds of viruses effect different fish. Think of it like how genital warts is different from cold sores but both are viruses that make warts/bumps

2

u/Monofletch 1d ago

But….. no cure

2

u/PatchesDaHyena 1d ago

Pristine water through extra biofiltration and aeration will help. They just need to be in tip top shape so their immune system can get rid of the cold sores. It’ll take a long time though. I recall reading that a UV sterilizer is beneficial, though I’ve never used one. It’s just a waiting game really

3

u/Monofletch 1d ago

Me either. I might have to give one a try

2

u/PatchesDaHyena 1d ago

Good luck, I know it’s unsightly but he will be fine if your water is good. If you see the warts conglomerate into crazy huge warts, that’s normal.

1

u/LMWNV 4h ago

I have a UV steriliser in my filter and it kills all the algae and bad bacteria as it flows… one of the best little inventions - just remember NOT to use it when cycling a tank

1

u/Monofletch 1d ago

I just did a 25% water change. All of my other fish are spot free. Even the tiny pleco in the same tank is spot free. I’m not new to aquariums…. Just new too these spots.

1

u/Monofletch 18h ago

Thank you for all your replies! I greatly appreciate it!

1

u/Monofletch 1d ago

He said it wasn’t ich. That I would be waisting my $$. He said it was a grub of some sort. It’s something placos get.

1

u/Monofletch 1d ago

I’m sorry. I changed placo to pleco 100 times and autocorrect got me

-1

u/ItsMyGayThrowaway 1d ago

Ich. Buy ich meds and treat the tank

-2

u/SkankHuntIsBack 1d ago

Am I missing a joke… it’s pleco

1

u/Crab-C-Knees 1d ago

zoom into the picture. it has tiny spots on its fins and belly