Can't identify issue with aligator gar

[Mja]

Need some help identifying the issue with my alligator gar and possibly my pleco. He's about a year old have him trained to hand feed shrimp that's his primary diet. Always socializes at the front of the tank with me and hangs right next to me everyday at my shop In the office. He all of sudden turned white for a few days which has happened once before but this time had a film on him and his eyes and it later peeled. I did a filter clean and water change along with start right and his color came back in a few days but he won't eat and is doing nothing but sitting at the top of the tank. Here's some pics of what I think might be fungus idk??? I did an epsom salt treatment and he perked up but not for long. He's also acting as though he's trying to regurgitate. It's been a week no food. I spend everyday hanging with this fish and I know something is seriously wrong and don't want to lose him.

 

[tlindsey]

Need some help identifying the issue with my alligator gar and possibly my pleco. He's about a year old have him trained to hand feed shrimp that's his primary diet. Always socializes at the front of the tank with me and hangs right next to me everyday at my shop In the office. He all of sudden turned white for a few days which has happened once before but this time had a film on him and his eyes and it later peeled. I did a filter clean and water change along with start right and his color came back in a few days but he won't eat and is doing nothing but sitting at the top of the tank. Here's some pics of what I think might be fungus idk??? I did an epsom salt treatment and he perked up but not for long. He's also acting as though he's trying to regurgitate. It's been a week no food. I spend everyday hanging with this fish and I know something is seriously wrong and don't want to lose him.

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Welcome aboard

Possibly cloudy Eye
What are your water parameters?
How often do you do water changes?

 

[Mja]

Welcome aboard

Possibly cloudy Eye
What are your water parameters?
How often do you do water changes?

I'm going to get some more test strips and check it again today I'll post the results. Since we've had him we've done a water change and clean the inside of the tank once a month. The tanks always crystal clear and I do add water maybe every couple weeks because it evaporates. I've got the round type pump and filter. Has the different types of foam you can put in it. It's a 55 gal tank with some plants and the pleco does a good job keeping it clean. The pleco is as alive as ever he's not acting any different.

 

[Bertie07]

The tank is to small for a alligator gar, they need a pond of 10,000 gallons or bigger. You should be doing water changes weekly and I would say about 50% with the stock. I would look for a new home for the gar as his growth has been seriously stunted.

 

[Mja]

Well looking for a new home does the fish no good if he's sick so as of right now my main concern is making sure he does not die in the next week. He's grown over a foot in 8 months which goes along with wild gar growth rate. I'm asking for help diagnosing his symptoms so I can treat it before it progresses. Thanks

 

[Bertie07]

I would start with doing large water changes and dosing with general cure

 

[kno4te]

Get that water checked ASAP. If u can’t get it checked right away then I’d suggest a big water change 90% and dose the new water with a dechlorinator. Forget the Epsom salt. Add plain salt 1 tsp per gallon. If not better in 24hrs or worsens after water changes then would dose the tank with maracyn2. Maracyn2 will kill ur beneficial bacteria and will need to check ur water daily. Best of luck.

 

[Mja]

Well been working on this situation all day and I've got him doing really really good. Almost back to normal. Did 5 gallons of water every couple hours until the water stabilized and did it's thing. Also set the tank up so it pushes water and air bubbles from the left side to the right. He's been hanging in the current that it makes. His eyes cleared up too. Was able to avoid the need to put any treatments in the tank except for the water conditioner. I'm thinking the shrimp might be to fatty for him so I want to add variety. What's the BEST foods to give them besides pellets and feeders. He will eat anything I give him I've had him eating off a chopstick since he was a baby.

 

[tlindsey]

Well been working on this situation all day and I've got him doing really really good. Almost back to normal. Did 5 gallons of water every couple hours until the water stabilized and did it's thing. Also set the tank up so it pushes water and air bubbles from the left side to the right. He's been hanging in the current that it makes. His eyes cleared up too. Was able to avoid the need to put any treatments in the tank except for the water conditioner. I'm thinking the shrimp might be to fatty for him so I want to add variety. What's the BEST foods to give them besides pellets and feeders. He will eat anything I give him I've had him eating off a chopstick since he was a baby.

Make sure feeders are quarantined prior to feeding to your fish. A safe solution would be chunks of thawed Tilapia.

 

[Mja]

Make sure feeders are quarantined prior to feeding to your fish. A safe solution would be chunks of thawed Tilapia.

I stopped giving him feeders after the second week I got him. Lol he was hardly able to eat them anyway he was the size of them. Spent a lot of time getting him to take the food off a chopstick and not to be aggressive about it. They are actually very smart fish