I have a 9" Plecosaurus that has developed a large, oval lesion on
it's underside. I have posted a JPEG image at
http://www.streamload.com/rickwashburn/blackie.jpg that shows the
lesion. It's unclear if it is the result of an injury or an infecion.
As the image shows, the lesion is very clean - but looks deep.
Possible causes I've considered are:

1. Abrasion against lava rocks in tank (could he have become entrapped
and struggled thereby causing this injury?

2. As all Plecos do, he spend most of his time gently sucking the
walls of the tank. I've noticed he likes to suck on the glass tank
heater (100w) immersion type. Could he have recieved some sort of burn
that resulted in a blister - leaving this lesion?

3. Is this the result of some sort of bacterial/viral/parasitic
infection? No other fish appear ill, no new fish added to tank in last
60 days.

So my questions are: what is the most likely cause of his lesion, and
how can it be treated?

Thanks 

-Rick

---

Request for Question Clarification by tlspiegel-ga on 11 Aug 2005 15:11 PDT

Hi Rick,

Please let me know if this would be a fully satisfactory answer to your question.

All of the information came from WetWebMedia.com


Disease FAQs on Loricariids, South and Central American Suckermouth Cats 2
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"Yesterday I noticed his sucker was pinky/red sort of uneven. Is this
normal? I am assuming not. Could it be heater burn? Could it be
bacteria? Could it be a sign of gill flukes? What do you all think?
 
"It "could" be any of the above. My bet would be bacterial, but it
could be from something as simple as eating algae off of a rough rock.
Keep the water clean, remove all but smooth rocks and watch her. I
would not treat unless you see it get worse. Then a good broad
spectrum antibiotic"

=========

Sick Pleco
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"... and noticed that he has developed a white spot on his side/back
that is surrounded in a milky colored haze (mucus?)"

"This could be a Protozoan infestation called Chilodonella. Treat the
fish with Metronidazole for about 10 days. Should clear it right up.
Move him to a QT if possible. Test the water whenever treating and
correct any spikes in ammonia or nitrite with water changes. Replace
med in new water."

[ QT = Quarantine Tank ]

=========

Plecostomus with strange red splotches
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"Plecostomus a few weeks ago and today I noticed that its fins looked
tattered and it had strange red, almost bloody looking splotches.
<Mmm, if you've had the fish this long, there is something in your
present system that is mal-affecting it>
This morning it wasn't too bad, but it has gotten noticeably worse as
the day went on. He or she is still breathing and moving a little
although it's not eating. In the morning it was on its back
<A very bad sign>
...and I flipped it over with a net. I only have a total of 4 fish in
my 10 gallon aquarium (3 platies and the Plecostomus its about 2 1/2
inches) and please write if you have any ideas about what I can do
because I am very concerned. It also had a few indentations that
looked similar to pock-marks. Will it contaminate my other fish?
Thanks
<Have you water quality test kits? What are they telling you? Do you
have measurable ammonia, nitrite? What is the water pH? I would
quickly do a good 25% water change (vacuuming the gravel if you have
such a tool) and add an ammonia-nullifying product (e.g. Amquel,
StressCoat, Prime...)."

=========

Re: starving pleco
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricfdgfaqs.htm

"Today I noticed that he has a small red circle on his belly that
doesn't look like a cut, lesion or abrasion, but something under his
skin (was not there yesterday).  Our gravel has some angled shell
pieces but mostly rounded medium sized rock, so unless he is so
delicate that he bruised himself on the rocks or wood ...Any ideas?"

"it?s possible that he just rubbed himself on something."

=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

---

Clarification of Question by rickwashburn-ga on 11 Aug 2005 16:42 PDT

Very helpful, please post as answer. Great job based on the available data!

-Rick

Hi Rick,

Thank you for your question and request to post my clarification as the answer.

All of the information came from WetWebMedia.com

Disease FAQs on Loricariids, South and Central American Suckermouth Cats 2
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"Yesterday I noticed his sucker was pinky/red sort of uneven. Is this
normal? I am assuming not. Could it be heater burn? Could it be
bacteria? Could it be a sign of gill flukes? What do you all think?
 
"It "could" be any of the above. My bet would be bacterial, but it
could be from something as simple as eating algae off of a rough rock.
Keep the water clean, remove all but smooth rocks and watch her. I
would not treat unless you see it get worse. Then a good broad
spectrum antibiotic"

=========

Sick Pleco
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"... and noticed that he has developed a white spot on his side/back
that is surrounded in a milky colored haze (mucus?)"

"This could be a Protozoan infestation called Chilodonella. Treat the
fish with Metronidazole for about 10 days. Should clear it right up.
Move him to a QT if possible. Test the water whenever treating and
correct any spikes in ammonia or nitrite with water changes. Replace
med in new water."

[ QT = Quarantine Tank ]

=========

Plecostomus with strange red splotches
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricdisfaq2.htm

"Plecostomus a few weeks ago and today I noticed that its fins looked
tattered and it had strange red, almost bloody looking splotches.
<Mmm, if you've had the fish this long, there is something in your
present system that is mal-affecting it>
This morning it wasn't too bad, but it has gotten noticeably worse as
the day went on. He or she is still breathing and moving a little
although it's not eating. In the morning it was on its back
<A very bad sign>
...and I flipped it over with a net. I only have a total of 4 fish in
my 10 gallon aquarium (3 platies and the Plecostomus its about 2 1/2
inches) and please write if you have any ideas about what I can do
because I am very concerned. It also had a few indentations that
looked similar to pock-marks. Will it contaminate my other fish?
Thanks
<Have you water quality test kits? What are they telling you? Do you
have measurable ammonia, nitrite? What is the water pH? I would
quickly do a good 25% water change (vacuuming the gravel if you have
such a tool) and add an ammonia-nullifying product (e.g. Amquel,
StressCoat, Prime...)."

=========

Re: starving pleco
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/loricfdgfaqs.htm

"Today I noticed that he has a small red circle on his belly that
doesn't look like a cut, lesion or abrasion, but something under his
skin (was not there yesterday).  Our gravel has some angled shell
pieces but mostly rounded medium sized rock, so unless he is so
delicate that he bruised himself on the rocks or wood ...Any ideas?"

"it?s possible that he just rubbed himself on something."

=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

Quick & helpful info

Ooooops... posted the answer too quick!  

keyword search:

Plecostomus red lesion
Pleco diseases
heater burn on fish belly
Plecosaurus injury belly lesion red

Thanks!
tlspiegel

To hopefully add to tlspiegel's skillful answer, here are a few more
references that might help.

Practical Fishkeeping
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=193

"Ulcers and bacterial infections"


FishDoc
http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/bacterial.htm

"Bacterial infections and diseases"

QT him ADD a broad spectrum anti biotic change water in  QT completly
everyday good airation is must and wait for it to heal and try to not
let him suck on the heater by hinding it some how bcs i had problems
with my pelco and heater