Plecos and Fish Slime Coats.

LKJRHGTHJKL

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 14, 2016
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Hello, I have recently decided to add in a Common plecostomus into my tank of Blood Parrot Cichlids. Now, I know this sounds like a horrible idea, but I decided to risk it anyway. Anyway, I read on the internet that Common Plecos sometimes suck the slime coats off other fish.
A. Is there any way to minimize the odds of this happening?
B. Assuming this does start happening, are there any warning signs of this? I.E Visible changes on the fish
Thank you.
Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this; I'm a newbie. :p
 

RLHam3

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 29, 2008
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A. Keep him well fed or even better choose a different species of plecostomus

B. You will see missing scales in a circular pattern and maybe even some exposed flesh too. When it happens, watch closely for secondary bacterial infection
 
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LKJRHGTHJKL

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 14, 2016
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A. Keep him well fed or even better choose a different species of plecostomus

B. You will see missing scales in a circular pattern and maybe even some exposed flesh too. When it happens, watch closely for secondary bacterial infection
Thanks! This will probably be helpful in the long run.
 

Charney

The Fish Doctor
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Nov 15, 2005
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its typically the slow moving bottom fish that are targets
 

smitty03281964

Peacock Bass
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May 5, 2010
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I have always had plecos and never really had that problem. The couple times I witnessed it it kind of remind me how the little fish feed off the excess from the whales. But I never thought they were causing damage.
 
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