Potential heater burn?

[lilu]

Hello,

I noticed today that my Lasiancistrus tentaculatus has what appears to be a heater burn on its stomach. Yesterday I did see it spending most of the afternoon between the heater (200W Cobalt Neotherm set to 80F) and the side of the aquarium. It is still very active but it is holding its body in a concave way as if it is trying to keep its stomach from touching the glass. Does this look like a heater burn or potentially could it be something else? Thanks in advance!

[lilu]

He's back on the heater again (between the heater and the glass) but looks like it is carefully keeping itself propped up with its fins so it's stomach doesn't touch. When I got a closer look it seems that the skin is peeling a little around the red areas, but I'm not totally sure. The only new inhabitant in the tank from yesterday is a 5" H. sabaji, but I don't think it could be responsible for an injury like that - from what I've seen it is pretty mellow.

[kalija]

My three H. sabaji are very mellow with each other - not sure how they are with other plecs. I think if he is trying to hide by the heater I would start by checking to see if there are enough hiding places in the tank for each to have their own spots - make sure they have multiple places to choose to hide out in. Just the addition of the new plec might have unsettled him. I would re-arrange all the 'furniture' and make sure to break up some territories for them. How big is your tank?

As far as the heater burn goes; I am no expert on treatment but I am sure someone with more experience will chime it. For myself I would be inclined to maybe add something like melafix. I know there are differing opinions as to whether it works or not but I have used it on beat up cichlids and it seemed to help them heal.

[JamesFish]

You could try frequent small water changes to keep conditions as good as possible and let mother nature take care of it. You can take steps to help if it doesn't look like its healing.

Also perhaps a heater guard might be a good idea as fish have a habit of sleeping on them.

[lilu]

Thank you both for the replies! Currently it is a 55G but hopefully in the next couple weeks they'll all be moving to a 75. I was observing the H. sabaji today and he spent most of the time hanging out with the Corydoras and took no interest in the other plecos. I moved the caves around and will do the small daily water changes. At least the red area has not gotten larger from yesterday but it is pretty much the same colour.