Albino Bristlenose Quite Skinny - Help?

[Nomi]

My new albino BN is becoming quite skinny, and I am going to be placing him in QT tomorrow to fatten him up and possibly treat for any internal parasites. He's usually not out and about during the day, but I do occasionally see him grazing in the mornings/evenings.

The QT is a 10G, heated at the same temp as the main tank (24C), and fully cycled with an aquaclear 20. No lights. I'll be transfering a block of mopani from the main tank with the BN as well.

What course of treatment would be best for this little guy? I usually treat at 0.1% salt, gradually raised to 0.3, and prazi pro for my goldfish in quarentine. How should I alter this for a pleco?

He's normally fed on hikari algea wafers as well as the algae in the tank. The goldfish are fed hikari lionhead, peas, bloodworms and the occasional cucumber slice. My old BN used to come out and eat the leftovers, but this new guy is much more shy. I'll probably be feeding him on the algae wafers and peas/cucumber/zucchini. Is there anything else I should consider feeding him to encourage him to gain a bit of weight?

Thank you very much for any help!

 

[buddha1200]

try green peppers,and zucchinni amd spirulina pellets, and try soaking the wafers in garlic(that will help with the appetite)

 

[Nomi]

Thank you very much! I never considered green peppers before, but I'll be more than happy to feed him anything he likes! XD I do not want to loose another pleco!

As for soaking in garlic, how much garlic is advisable to use? Just a bit?

 

[buddha1200]

i usaually put about one to two drops on the wafer if you are using the liquid,most plecos like mangos also but i only feed mangos as a treat(can be alittle messy some times)garlic also helps to prevent internal parasites as well

 

[buddha1200]

this albino bristle nose was raised on green peppers,spirulina pellets,carrots,mangos,algae wafers and shrimp pellets.

 

[Nomi]

Aww, he is an adorable chubby guy! I think I'll stop by the lfs on the way to work and get a few spirulina pellets and garlic extract if they have it in.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I see that you mentioned "mopani" wood ... I know plecos should have driftwood in the tank, for grazing, etc. ... but in my experience, plecos don't really take to mopani ...

after some poor results with mopani, I have since kept all my plecos with Malaysian driftwood ... and I guarantee you, they love it

 

[Nomi]

Well, he's doing a whole lot better! I think it is the garlic that did it, and I've seen him taking both the garlic soaked wafers and some garlic soaked peas! So far he's still a bit skinny for my taste, but he's active, responsive, and his poo looks good.

I was never able to get him into the QT (he would hide under the giant showpeice of driftwood that I could not transfer to the QT, the stinker). But he's now taken residence behind the filter intake. Scared me at first, I thought he was stuck!

That is interesting to hear about the mopani wood mot being appetizing. There is room for me to drop in some malaysian driftwood, so I may do just that.

 

[buddha1200]

Good to hear,i always use garlic on my plecos at first(seems to get them going good)also try a variety of foods and raw veggies,they may not eat them at first but after awhile when thet learn they are food you shouldnt have a problem.mine love bell peppers,zuchinni,mangos,carrots and romaine lettuce. they also love their algae wafers and shrimp pellets.

 

[Sonny503]

Good read, will be starting a collection of Bristlenose, 2 commom Dwarfs and 2 Albino. will try Magoes and Green Peppers?