Scarlet Pleco unusual growth

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 16, 2019
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New Jersey
Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0ppm
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0ppm
If yes, what is your nitrate?
30ppm
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
71-80%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Good Morning Everyone. I woke up this morning and noticed my usually healthy Scarlet Pleco all of a sudden has these weird growth coming out of his head and 2 on the side of his face. I do 2 water changes a week. He is currently in a 180 with 5 geophagus. Water is clean, and tested. It caught me off guard, couple of weeks ago it had looked like food stuck to his head spikes but now seeing this I am concerned. Any insight to what this is?

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Rocksor Rocksor would you hapoen to have any tips on treatment. I cant seem to find any online
 
Rocksor Rocksor would you hapoen to have any tips on treatment. I cant seem to find any online
It’s a viral cause and no treatment available. Wait it out if it’s lymphocystis.
 
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Thanks kno4te kno4te doing a water change now just to be safe.
 
kno4te kno4te so far I have been monitoring him. The growths are getting bigger and his eyes are bulging out, also he has completely stopped eating. He still swims around and is not lethargic but I am not sure if he will make it.
 
kno4te kno4te so far I have been monitoring him. The growths are getting bigger and his eyes are bulging out, also he has completely stopped eating. He still swims around and is not lethargic but I am not sure if he will make it.
I’d try a round of maracyn2 just to make sure. Since there are some other things occurring.
 
Hey kno4te kno4te Since our last conversation his health went down alot. I managed to get him back on track though. I noticed he was getting thin, eyes bulging, growths taking over his eyes- head -nostrils-gills, growths were huge and some were bursted causing blood to leak into water column visibly and was getting pale, stingy poop, swimming clumsy etc.... I had mixed some food with Metroplex and Kanaplex according to the doseage. Then I used a pipette to force feed him the mix. I have repeated this every 48hrs for the last week and now his eyes are returning to normal, stomach has evened out, and growths disappeared. He is also swimming like himself again. More to come. If I had left him he would have died. My method was used as a last ditch attempt since he was on the brink of death and surprisingly has had good results. After feeding the mix each time I noticed he passed bright yellow stringy poop I was thinking this is the medication at work. Right now he is stable and I noticed last night he ate 1 pellet. I will update once he has returned to normal feeding. I am wondering how much longer to keep up treatment. Should I stop and observe his condition now or continue the force feed method. His fins are frayed and his tail stings broke during all the force feeds but hopefully they will repair.

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Last edited:
Hey kno4te kno4te Since our last conversation his health went down alot. I managed to get him back on track though. I noticed he was getting thin, eyes bulging, growths taking over his eyes head nostrils, and was getting pale etc.... I had mixed some food with Metroplex and Kanaplex according to the doseage. Then I used a pipette to force feed him the mix. I have repeated this every 48hrs for the last week and now his eyes are returning to normal, stomach has evened out, and growths disappeared. He is also swimming like himself again. More to come. If I had left him he would have died. My method was used as a last ditch attempt and surprisingly has had good results. After feeding the mix each time I noticed he passed bright yellow stringy poop. Right now he is stable and I noticed last night he ate 1 pellet. I will update once he yas returned to feeding. I am wondering how much longer to keep up treatment.

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Growth disappearing and eye returning to normal

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kno4te kno4te from ypur observation, would it be wise to continue force feeds for another week or just monitor it for now?
 
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