L007

[courtneem]

I stopped into my LFS to make sure my ammonia was corrected. My test kit was showing lower amounts compared to theirs last week when I went through a mini cycle. All is well.

Looking through the tanks I saw a pretty black pleco with white spots, and this cute face, badly beaten up fins and it was up towards the top laying over the filter pipe just begging to be out of the tank. He was in with some other exotic fish and several other types of plecos.

I asked the guy what it was, he figured a "galaxias" marked at $49.00

He even said it was beaten up pretty bad and he had no other tank to move it to because it would just get beat up.

He asked me if I wanted to take a chance with him since I have a 55gl to put him in and knows I will be getting a 75gl and have good water. He said $20 and that got my interest.

"toss a coin" and see if I can help him make it as he said.

He got the guy to move and he also has a bum eye. The eye is a little clear yet and most of the damage is around the eye itself. I already have a one eye common so it doesn't matter to me any if he does lose it. Still pretty to me.

Since he noticed the eye he said "$10, I will take the loss if you want to give him a chance"

I took him

It does look like a L007? but some are yellow spotted I see some that are white???? but I could be wrong. I will post pics later tonight. I took a few of him in the bag and will get more when I release if he stays out a bit.

 

[Horiyoshi III]

Hey you,thats a Vampire pleco and i suggest you pick it up fast,before somone realizes what it is!!!These are big money plecs!!!! GO GO GO!

 

[davo]

original price sounds fair, you got a bargain if it pulls through. 2 plecs and 2 eyes between 'em lol. Although there are loads of white spotted black plecos, if it was labelled galaxias it is probably a L007 or one of the other L. aff. galaxias. They are white spots. Fin damage will heal, but sometimes plecs can be far gone. Hopefully will last long enough to settle in and start eating. How big is it. Lots of meaty foods for these guys. Good luck with it.

 

[courtneem]

here are pics guys

its about 4 1/2 inches I would say. I hope he pull through. He is VERY stressed out. I have the lights out now and letting him just rest. Doesnt have to worry about fish picking on him anymore and can just try and heal.

I am telling myself he wont make it because he does look rough and I wont be so disappointed if he doesnt pull through. His breathing is very rapid and his fins are clamped up and as you can see very ragged.

What should I feed him? I will try tomorrow after he rests. I do have sinking pellets I feed my catfish as far as protein. Anything else meaty I can try?

 

[Horiyoshi III]

Ouchie,he looks hurt.......Sinking algae wafer should be good aside from meaty stuff.Just throw some salt in there and hope for the best,i think he'll make it,you probably have better water than your LFS

 

[WyldFya]

Ouchie,he looks hurt.......Sinking algae wafer should be good aside from meaty stuff.Just throw some salt in there and hope for the best,i think he'll make it,you probably have better water than your LFS

Don't add salt.


Keep the lights out, keep the temp a little lower to keep higher levels of oxygen (I'd do 74-76dF), and add some melafix. A good strong bubbler, and lots of surface movement will also be beneficial. Pimafix wouldn't hurt as well. $49 is a very fair price, but $10 is a steal. The white spots may turn yellow when he is less stressed as well. It does look like a L. galaxias. Clearer pictures would help, and so would a top and side shot.

 

[courtneem]

I am not a salt kind of person. I have also read to much about salt and plecos not doing well together.

There is lots of air bubbles and lower water level. I will drop the temp a few degrees slowly.

Will try to get better pics

 

[jconley]

Best of luck! Looks like a beauty if it pulls thru.

 

[Clyde]

Indeed best of luck. Hope the TLC pays off for both of you.

 

[courtneem]

Well it has been about 8hrs, he has moved around the tank and his breathing seems more normal for a pleco. He is resting in the corner of the tank, he has yet to go hide in a cave. So far so good. I just wanted to at least see him make it the first night and we only have a few hours left!

Thanks for the well wishes of luck to pull it through!