???? bought 4 L-202's ????

[woodworm]

I picked up these cuties at my LFS when my order of BN's was cancelled by the shipper. The LFS was told that they are L-202, but he is not sure if it is correct. I think they might be L-209. Would appreciate any help.
General view: (note 1 has a damaged fin)

Mouth:

Top:

Side:

front:

[pleco_breeder]

Hello,

I can't speak much about the light coloration in the tank, they're usually darker, but the pattern has some similarity to L80. As always, can't be sure, but check that number after they've settled a bit.

Larry

[Janne]

They are in very bad shape so you have to take good care of them and start feeding...more food then normal and if they leave any food until next day remove that. It's a very beautiful species but I dont think they are L80 or even have any L-number...yet. Would be very interesting to see new pictures when they are in good condition.

Janne

[apistomaster]

They need to be dewormed and deparasitized in quarantine ASAP. I think you will need some luck to salvage these very interesting looking plecos. Truly a shame they arrived in such poor condition.

[woodworm]

Thanks for the input. They are in quarantine right now. I have added no med's to the tank as I am unsure on treating plecos. These 4 and some L-129's that I picked up at the same time are my first real attempt at "L" numbers. I have 3 "alligator" plecos, 2 ABN's, 6 BN's, and 2 common. Any suggestions or advice is welcome and appreciated.

[apistomaster]

Probably the easiest and most rapidly helpful treatments you may begin with would be to treat their water with Hikari PraziPro and Metronidazole. I would also try to get some GelTek UltraCure PX and soak some sinking carnivore tablet with the UltraCure PX so they get even more of these meds internally as well as the additional flubendazole UC PX contains. Between the flubendazole and PraziPro you will be treating a wide range of worms and flukes. The metro will beat down any flagellate parasites they may have.
I would keep them warm, 84 to 86*F and provide an air stone to help maintain the dissolved O2 levels as high as possible. They have a good chance of carrying gill flukes so their gill functions are likely impaired some. I would prefer the air stone not only for aeration but for the gentle currents it will set up. Very weak plecos may not benefit from strong currents set up by power heads until they have regained some of their strength.
I would also add a malachite green containing "Ich" med. This will treat for skin parasites like Chilodonella, a parasite I have frequently found afflicting recently imported wild Hypancistrus, Peckoltia and smaller Panaque "dentex' types, eg L204. All these medications may be safely used together.
I think your 4 fish are very interesting and are new ones to me so if this info helps them survive, I will be most pleased for you.

[woodworm]

Probably the easiest and most rapidly helpful treatments you may begin with would be to treat their water with Hikari PraziPro and Metronidazole. I would also try to get some GelTek UltraCure PX and soak some sinking carnivore tablet with the UltraCure PX so they get even more of these meds internally as well as the additional flubendazole UC PX contains. Between the flubendazole and PraziPro you will be treating a wide range of worms and flukes. The metro will beat down any flagellate parasites they may have.
I would keep them warm, 84 to 86*F and provide an air stone to help maintain the dissolved O2 levels as high as possible. They have a good chance of carrying gill flukes so their gill functions are likely impaired some. I would prefer the air stone not only for aeration but for the gentle currents it will set up. Very weak plecos may not benefit from strong currents set up by power heads until they have regained some of their strength.
I would also add a malachite green containing "Ich" med. This will treat for skin parasites like Chilodonella, a parasite I have frequently found afflicting recently imported wild Hypancistrus, Peckoltia and smaller Panaque "dentex' types, eg L204. All these medications may be safely used together.
I think your 4 fish are very interesting and are new ones to me so if this info helps them survive, I will be most pleased for you.

Thanks! My wife called lfs and found one that has the med's you talked about. They were closing in 20 minutes and we are 30+ away so we will go get them tomorrow along with some more appropriate food. These guys seem to like the algae wafers I have (129's don't), but I went out and got some more zucchini (my other pleco's love it) and put some slices in all the tanks. My wife also put some krill in the blender to see if they would eat some of that. I really don't want to loose these guys. We hope that we can get them to breed since we think that they are so adorable. Thanks again for your help, any other suggestions on their care is more then welcome.