L96 Spinosus help

[koltsixx]

Hi everybody, I'm not usually in this section as I'm not usually someone who keeps Plecos but I've been getting into them recently. I first picked up a Pseudacanthicus Serratus from Rare Fish and I fell in love. I was unable to find another Serratus(well at a price I was willing to pay) but I found a Spinosus L96 and some L160 online. So I placed an order and the fish arrived yesterday on time and extremely well packed, however the L96 had a wound on them. I contacted the seller and they said the injury must've happened in the travel to me and to update them in a week.

So I was curious, is there anything besides good water conditions I can do to help the Spinosus heal? What medications are safe for Plecos? Are they sensitive like naked catfish to salt etc? And can I get some opinions on the injury and general condition of the Spinosus. Again I don't have much experience with Plecos but I feel the fish also looks emaciated to me. Here are some pics of the injury. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

 

[Niki_up]

I’m sorry to hear this about your pleco. That injury looks too bad to have appeared during shipping (I assume it was shipped over night and in in a bag alone).

the poor thing does looking starving. If you want to get him to eat a little something you could try making a food paste and syringe it in his mouth? I had to do this with one of my L95’s upon arrival. I also added guarding guard to my paste.

salt is not good for plecos. Some medication has to be used at half doses.

I use fenbenzadol and levamisole as dewormers at full dose with no problems.

Metroplex might help fight infection, but as you said your best course of action is fresh clean water

 

[koltsixx]

I’m sorry to hear this about your pleco. That injury looks too bad to have appeared during shipping (I assume it was shipped over night and in in a bag alone).

the poor thing does looking starving. If you want to get him to eat a little something you could try making a food paste and syringe it in his mouth? I had to do this with one of my L95’s upon arrival. I also added guarding guard to my paste.

salt is not good for plecos. Some medication has to be used at half doses.

I use fenbenzadol and levamisole as dewormers at full dose with no problems.

Metroplex might help fight infection, but as you said your best course of action is fresh clean water

Thank you for the kind words and advice. Yes, it was shipped overnight guaranteed delivery by 12 noon and it came on time with no obvious signs of damage to the box or any of the other contents. The fish where in plastic bags(triple bagged) that had a clear hard plastic container in which the fish was contained in. Great packaging on their part and one of the reasons I can't understand how it could have happened during shipping.

I really appreciate the knowledge and will use it going forward but unfortunately I found the Spinosus had passed. Just 14 hours since I received him/her. Such a pity, it was a beautiful fish.

The two L160's that came with him though came in nice and plump and undamaged so hopefully I'll have better luck with them.

 

[koltsixx]

By the way I'd like more responses on peoples opinions on the fishes condition and the wound. The seller again stated it must have happened during shipping but I am unsure as their policy states mishandling by the Carrier would void their Guarantee. And I'm unsure if they said that to start making a case for themselves. Since the death happened after arrival I may have no leg to stand on but I more want to know what kind of people I am dealing with so I know if I should do business with them in the future. Such as them possibly knowingly sending me a injured fish since it was their only L96 or not knowing but realizing the injury couldn't have happened during shipping and only said so to avoid any responsibility.

Again thank you for those who respond and here are some more pics of the fish deceased and the wound.

 

[phreeflow]

It doesn’t look emaciated to me…the stomach looks nice and flat. However, it’s hard to believe that nasty injury happened during transit in a plastic bag. It was probably injured during capture due to rough handling and just shipped off that way.

 

[kno4te]

Wound/injury looks superficial except for the dark center in the first few pics but has clearly penetrated. If it stayed superficial then clean water and the fish eating could’ve cured it. I agree with phreeflow in doubting it occurred during shipping. Could be from being kept with other spiky plecos. Meds by niki_up are a good choice for wild plecos. If it past the 24hr from landing then the DOS doesn’t apply. Believe most have a few hours after landing policy which is due cost/risk. Seller might give you a discount on the next purchase if you discuss it. Seller possibly didn’t notice it and just trying to pus out fish etc.

 

[koltsixx]

It doesn’t look emaciated to me…the stomach looks nice and flat. However, it’s hard to believe that nasty injury happened during transit in a plastic bag. It was probably injured during capture due to rough handling and just shipped off that way.

Thank you for you response, it's greatly appreciated. I don't know much about Plecos. Since joining MFK I've had 3 Plecos if memory serves. So I feel unsure when it comes to my assessments of Plecos such as them being emaciated or not. I superficially judged it against my other current Plecos the L160's and Serratus appearances and wanted to make sure if I was correct or not. Thanks for the help.

I feel the same in believing it seems weird such a injury could happen during shipping especially considering the packaging and condition the box etc arrived in which seemed to be completely unscathed. As I said the inner most bag had a semi-rigid clear plastic container taped inside it that the pleco resided in during transit. No appreciable leaked water and the rigid container I would think would protect the Pleco from anything possibly injuring it's body and preventing their spines to penetrate any the bags. Meaning at worst I'd think they'd get jostled and stressed not injured. No other signs of trauma to indicate a water parameter problem in the bag such as ammonia burn.

Very odd, I've had fish come to me sick and at deaths door(and let me make a point I order often and it is a very rare occurrence) such as twitching, unable to right themselves due to water conditions becoming compromised either during or before shipment. Almost all I was able to bring back by lowering my water level to reduce osmotic pressure etc others treating the fungus or ich they came with. But I believe this is the first time I received a injured fish. Not trying to fault the seller, it's just something odd to me as I genuinely believe this is my first time.

 

[koltsixx]

Wound/injury looks superficial except for the dark center in the first few pics but has clearly penetrated. If it stayed superficial then clean water and the fish eating could’ve cured it. I agree with phreeflow in doubting it occurred during shipping. Could be from being kept with other spiky plecos. Meds by niki_up are a good choice for wild plecos. If it past the 24hr from landing then the DOS doesn’t apply. Believe most have a few hours after landing policy which is due cost/risk. Seller might give you a discount on the next purchase if you discuss it. Seller possibly didn’t notice it and just trying to pus out fish etc.

Thanks kno4te, your insight is always greatly appreciated. The skin around the wound was loose removed from adhering to the fishes insides. It is how I first noticed it, the few moments it swam the skin fluttered as water flowed between it and the musculature underneath. The hole was from what I could tell a perfect oval, didn't appear torn or ripped to me. I had read that Pseudacanthicus can be territorial and since the seller had other Pseudacanthicus I thought it might be a wound from a dispute. But the seller told me they had the Spinosus in it's own/alone in a bare bottom and undecorated tank.

The Spinosus passed just under 14 hours after arrival and I immediately messaged the seller. I have timestamped pics and videos proving it's expiration. I'll see how it goes, regardless I am deeply saddened. I really liked the way the Spinosus looked and was looking forward to keepin him/her and doubly sad is the fact that it was their only Spinosus Portel.

By the way just so everyone can see here is a bag the L160's came in, the Spinosus Portel just came in a larger one. It's one of the reasons I find the fish being wounded during transport hard to believe.

 

[koltsixx]

Im really sorry this happened. I must say though I miss read the title and thought for a second you had a pet spinosaur lol

Thanks man and yeah I found myself constantly saying Spinosaurus to myself when ever I read it or wrote it. So I feel where you're coming from. Lol

 

[1 2many]

Definitely hard to believe that happened during shipping.
You should ask the seller, how did this happen during shipping if it was packaged, and shipped properly?