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L204, growth on fin

Posted: 12 Mar 2017, 05:00
by YSR50
No other fish are showing any symptoms and the fish is acting/eating normal. The fish is only a couple of inches long (sl) and was purchased the day they came into the store. Wondering what would be the correct medication to try.

1. Water parameters
a) Temperature range: 82f
b) pH. 7.5
c) GH. 200
d) KH ?
e)Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, levels: 0
f) Water change frequency: about 1/3 every week

2. Tank set up
a) Size: 29 gallon high
b) Substrate: bare bottom
c) Filtration: 5x5x7 sponge with jetlifter, hob penguin, hydor powerhead
d) Furnishings: Lots of wood, bamboo and clay caves, cholla, and a heater
e) Other tank mates: 4 total L204s, 2 large males and 2 young. 1 - 6" L600 and a few juvenile long fin BN rotated out of my BN breeding set up.
f) How long has it been set-up? 1 year
g) When was the last new fish added? 1 month ago this fish was added along with another young L204
h) Foods used and frequency? Repashy as well as various Ken's flake food, pellets and wafers. Fed once or twice a day

3. Symptoms / Problem description: Sore on the fin, shown in attached picture. Just noticed last night

4. Action taken (if any) none

5. Medications used (if any) none

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 12 Mar 2017, 10:49
by Jobro
I think it is some bacterial infection and it "eats away" at your plecos pectoral ray. I had this on a L260. I removed it by hand and found, that the pectoral ray underneath was gone. Treated it in a small glass with anti bacterial medicine for 30 minutes and set him back into the tank. He recovered well. Pectoral ray did not grow fully back. I recommend quick action as it might grow and eat more of the ray.

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 13 Mar 2017, 17:47
by YSR50
Thanks, did like you described last night. The anti-bacterial meds I bought are intended to be used 2 or 3 days in a row, so I think I'll try catching it again tonight and do another dip

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 15 Mar 2017, 19:01
by Jobro
how is it going?

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 17 Mar 2017, 14:31
by YSR50
Still looks about the same. Guess I'll pull it and do another dip.

I'm using API Furan-2 Powder, each packet is good for 10 gallons and I'm dipping in a 2.5 gallon tank so I use 1/4 of a packet in the dip tank, and just put the other 3/4 into the 29 gallon tank where the L204s are kept. I'm sure it's not doing much, but it also won't hurt.

Do you think it would it be ok to maybe make a bit of concentrated paste from the powder and put it directly on the fin for a few seconds before dipping? Or would that cause more trouble than help?

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 19 Mar 2017, 19:18
by Jobro
The white stuff still there? I removed it with my fingers and it didn't grow back.

Re: L204, growth on fin

Posted: 20 Mar 2017, 15:22
by YSR50
I did the same, removed it with my finger before dipping but it has come back both times. This time I removed it and applied some concentrated paste on the area before dipping the fish for an hour. I also put about 50% more than the recommended amount of meds in the dip tank. Attached is a picture of how the fin looked while in the dip tank this time. You can see the ray/bone is still there on the right, but is exposed. The left fin looks a bit odd, but it's just the bad picture.

Did this Saturday. I did not see the fish yesterday as I have so much wood jammed into the tank it's difficult to see the fish most times, much less catch them if needed. I'll check on it today when I get home.
IMG_4416.JPG