Hi, my Senegal bichir has developed grey patches in the middle of his body down both sides. What's wrong with him?
Grey patches
- Thread starter Hakuneedshelp
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- senegal bichir
It looks like a damaged slime coat. Is there a pleco in there with him? They tend to suck the slime coat on bichirs.
What other fish do you have in there, and what are the water parameters?
What other fish do you have in there, and what are the water parameters?
Yes there's a bristle nose pleco in with him. Would salt help? I have just done a 30% water change, I'll do a test
You don't need to add salt. Removing the pleco and doing water changes is all you need, but you can add stress coat to help quicken the healing.
Have you been feeding your pleco? They only start eating slime coats when they're starving.
Have you been feeding your pleco? They only start eating slime coats when they're starving.
Thanks I will do. Of course but I'm thinking the silver dollars may have been stealing his food and pushing him out. Would slime coat problems cause the fish to struggle to breathe? He looks like he's struggling although he hasn't gone to the surface he's sort of stood up and looks like he's struggling
Is he breathing hard and fast? They can get pretty stressed out from slime coat damage, but not to the point of breathing problems.
What are your water parameters? Did this just happen after the water change? Did you use water from tap?
What are your water parameters? Did this just happen after the water change? Did you use water from tap?
Yes he seems to be. I only noticed him doing it after the water change but I couldn't say for sure that he wasn't doing it before because he usually spends a lot of time at the back of the tank and in tubes. My nitrates are pretty high but they are when straight out of tap. I use aqua safe conditioner
If you added water straight from tap, the water conditioner likely didn't have enough time to clear all the chloramines out. He'll calm down and breathe normally after a bit.
However, that nitrate level is insane. Have you thought about putting in live plants to help absorb it?
However, that nitrate level is insane. Have you thought about putting in live plants to help absorb it?
Yes it is ridiculous I'll get some plants. He's still struggling to breathe, you don't think it might be slime coat disease? I used the same method for my water change that I've used for the last couple of years, he's never been affected before.