Snowball Pleco

Umm, I will use the template but most of it I either can't supply (lack of knowledge or inefficient equipment). I'll give it a go though.


Tank size and setup: 180 Litre Community Tank

Substrate: Sand

filtration (Internal, external, flow rate, last cleaned and what it was cleaned in): Internal, cleaned every 2 weeks by my mum. Not sure what it's cleaned in, not my tank. xD

Airstone/sponge filter etc: Sponge Filter

Inhabitance: 2 Guamis, 2 Platys, 4 Corys, Male Bristlenose and Snowball Pleco

Fish affected by issue (all/bottom dwellers, all bristlenose or a single fish etc): Snowball Pleco

Feeding system (what, how much, how often): Courgette every other day, algae wafers every day, fish flakes every day, blood worm once a week.

current water change system (before illness appeared): Every week 15%.

water changes made since illness appeared: None, happened earlier today.

As many levels as you know (pH, Ammonia, nitrate, nitirite, KH, GH, TDS, aanything you can find out, your local fish shop should be able to help with this): pH = 7.0 Ammonia = 0 Nitrite = 0.3 Nitrate = 0.5 Not sure about th rest, need to test.

any chemicals used (including carbon/chemical fitration inside the filter): Umm, none as far as I know?

water source and treatment: Water Source is from the tap. Water Dechlorinator is used.

Major changes in the last 3 weeks (new fish, new plants, new anything or changes): New Fish (snowball).

Symptoms (gasping, not moving, bloated, spots, wounds, stressed colours etc): Torn fins, both on the left side of the body, back and tail. Right side seems to be ok. These are torn in like 3 different places down each fin. I am sure it was from the bristlenose showing who was boss as the snowball only went in earlier today, I am just wondering whether they will heal by themselves or if I need to take any action.

Pictures: Camera is dead atm, plus we can't find it. xD

EDIT: Got two pictures;





The snowball is an LDA33 by the way.

You have a reading for nitrite, I know you were having problems with your cycle at first so did the tank complete it's cycle or is the nitrite still coming down The presence of nitrite can be caused by overfeeding or inadequate filtration.

So long as optimum water conditions are kept torn fins will usually repair, if they do appear to show signs of deteriorating then a combination of melafix and pimafix could be an effective cure but you will need to add extra aeration while using them.

Ok thank you.

Yeah, the nitrite is down to 0 now. I think the bristlenose has survived the spike luckily.