L260 problem-discoloration

davidkozak · Post by **davidkozak** » 14 Jan 2005, 22:30

One of my L260 has some discoloration on the latter half of it's body, and a small amount on it's fins...It's in a 50 gallon bare bottom tank with cycled filter...temp is about 82 deg....there are 5 other adults in the tank and some fry...here's a picture...any ideas??
David
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/ ... blotch.jpg

Post by **Silurus** » 14 Jan 2005, 22:32

Heater burns?

Tom2600 · Post by **Tom2600** » 14 Jan 2005, 22:36

Hi

Before I saw the picture your description sounded like pigment changes due to variations in tank illumination. My juvenille L260's display this a lot.

However, looking at your picture it could be a bacterial infection. I would make a 30% water change and then a 20% change a day or two later. If you can get hold of some polyfilter that should take out any pollutant/irritant that may have caused this.

I have some L260 and I am building some caves for them this weekend. What are the dimensions of the saves your L260s have spawned in?

Many thanks

Tom

davidkozak · Post by **davidkozak** » 14 Jan 2005, 22:42

[quote="Silurus"]Heater burns?[/quote]
The heater is located fairly high up the side of the tank, and I've never seen any of them hiding behind the heater-they have other places to hide--doesn't mean it DIDN't happen though...
DO you think I should remove him to a seperate tank? or just keep an eye on him??
David
p.s. I don't think it's bacterial, as you'd think the 2 week old fry would be dropping like flies..I change the water regularly...
I just got a suggestion on the other forum that it might be the result of agression btwn males...the alpha male has a female trapped in one of the caves right now, so that would appear to make sense...I might have to seperate my colony into two tanks..

Picklefish · Post by **Picklefish** » 14 Jan 2005, 23:53

Maybe it's damage from another of the fish. I had 3 L260 in a tank with some regular BNs. Once the BNs put on some size the beat the tar out of the L260m. Cave competetion was my guess. I removed the L260 to a tank of their own and treated with melafix for 10 ten days and now they are fine. I was quite worried in the begining as it looked really bad.

Tom2600 · Post by **Tom2600** » 15 Jan 2005, 01:17

Hi

A bacterial infection can affect just one fish. It could be that your fish has damaged its skin in some way and the bacteria will soon set in. HOWEVER, it could just be some unusual pigment change? Its got me stumped.

Sorry to ask again but do you mind revealing the dimensions of the caves your L260s have spawned in please?

Post by **Barbie** » 15 Jan 2005, 01:27

David that fish has been chewed on by another L260. Did you just recently take the fry from the male? How many caves are in there? If you remember the picture of the male zebra of mine that got so badly maimed, that started with much the same look as your fish has. I would redecorate the tank and add a couple caves. If the damage gets worse, put in a divider until they get the squabbles worked out.

Barbie

davidkozak · Post by **davidkozak** » 15 Jan 2005, 01:37

Barbie: No...fry have been seperate from the male for quite some time...I removed the fry at least 12 days ago..(they're all doing very well and eating a few types of food-haven't lost any)
3 caves...2 males...4 females..
Would females be chewing on him/her?? Because the other male is busy right now(in a different cave with a female)..I can put some more hiding spots in there..
Tom: I don't know what the dimensions of the caves are-they're of similar dimension to what people mention in articles about breeding L260 on the site here..Sorry, I don't want to remove the caves and measure them...

Tom2600 · Post by **Tom2600** » 15 Jan 2005, 01:41

Hi

Thanks. I completely understand. I'll have a hunt round for the measurements on the site.

Good luck with your plec. I'm sure it will pull through. Sounds as if it has come from fighting.

davidkozak · Post by **davidkozak** » 15 Jan 2005, 01:46

Tom:
1.75 tall, by 2.25 wide, by 5-6 inches deep...inside measurements...that's an estimate, but I was looking down at a ruler as I was peering thru the glass--and the back of the cave is also sealed with a small piece of tile so there's only one entrance..

David
p.s. I've added two more caves, and I'm going to try and shift some fish around and split up the group-1 male 2 females per tank...

Post by **Barbie** » 15 Jan 2005, 04:20

That definitely looks like territorial squabble marks to me. Is the male that's in with a female the same one that spawned initially or a new one?

Barbie

davidkozak · Post by **davidkozak** » 15 Jan 2005, 04:22

I can't say for sure, but I'm leaning towards it being the same male that spawned the first time...David