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Ok my plec who hasnt been very well and has been moved to a new tank now apears to have some sort of fungus infection or somthing.

I have done some research and have noted that a 15-30 min salt bath will help him greatly

my question

i havent got a spare tank to put him in while i do the bath so will it be ok to put him in a 2 gallon bucket with some tank water in and add some aquarium salt to that?

i know the water will lose some heat over the 30mins but i was thinking of putting some towels around the bucket to insulate it the best i can. also i haven't got anything spare to oxygenate the water (like a pump) will he be ok for the 30 mins in the bucket

Im assuming he will be ok because when i bring most of my fish home from my LFS that is about a 20-30 min drive away and they have no heater or pump in there plasting bag (obviously ) but just wanted everyones advice befor i go ahead and do it!

I cannot get to my LFS till monday to get the salt because it closes on the weekend so i have till then to decide what im going to do.

your help is appriciated

Oh and just to add he is about 3" long

thanks guys

(i hate my fish getting sick such a worrie)

Yes, doing the salt bath in a bucket will be just fine, and adding the towels around will help keep the temp stable, might also want to put a towel over the top as well...

Just a hint of advice keep an eye on the little guy, incase he starts getting overly stressed, you might need to move him back to the "clean" water sooner than you were intending...

Best of luck, heidi





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What if I was good to you, what if you were good to me
What if I could hold you till I feel you move inside of me
What if it was paradise, what if we were symphonies
What if I gave all my life to find some way to stand beside you
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"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

thanks huston i have been told that it is best to only bath him for 3 mins so thats what im gonna do

well after a verry hard attempt at catching my pleco i gave him a 3 minute salt bath (10 litre- 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt) he didn't seem to mind it at all!

however since i have put him back in the tank he has just sat in a huff under a bit of bogwood (not his normal resting place) is this normal?

thanks guys

I'm not entirely sure if it is normal or not, but my bet is he's scared you are going to fish him out again to torture himso he's probably trying to stay clear of you and anyone else with a net...

But, you did reaclimate him to the tank, right? Just keep an eye on him, and throw him a couple of algae wafers, he'll be back to normal eventually i'm sure

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

he's sick, and he's been through quite an ordeal.
give him time to get back on his fins.

is his eyes ok? are they clear? salt might damage the eyes (although you haven't used enough salt to do that kind of damage).

some people treat hospitals the same way, so i wouldn't be too worried already.

well it has been 2 days now and he is a little happier. he was in his tank on his own and i dont think that helped (had to put him in on his own coz my nasty oscar bullied him ) so i when out and bought a 8" pleco to "mother him" they get along great i have never seen the little fella at the front of the tank so much! they suck the tank side by side and the little fella never leaves his/her side! its only been a day and they have took to eachother realy well (bless )