brittlenose plec shedding skin?

[dicarey84]

our brittlenose plec seems to be shedding its skin/scales is this normal? i'm pretty new to fish keeping so a bit clueless

there is black flakes over the top of the gravel mounting up where he generally lays, cant see a difference in him but it certainly looks like his scales and not sure where else it could be coming from

 

[Petrella88]

Seems like it may be some kind of parasite.

Water conditions?
How often water changes?
Diet?
Tank mates?