Jacob._.merc

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Sep 1, 2017
102
14
33
23
Some one help please. I have a Senegal bichir and hes about 5 and a half inches but recently I noticed this weird dust looking stuff on his head and his color has gotten a lot darker than normal. Is this normal or a parasite?

IMAG1188.jpg

IMAG1185.jpg
 

Mighty Wizard

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 8, 2017
207
191
46
33
Everywhere
If it's some sort of slime coat problem then it could be seriously bad. Other than that I don't really know, sorry. Many types of infections and diseases can be treated with aquarium salt, so that's where I'd start.

Wish I could be of more help. Hopefully someone here will know what's going on.
 

Jacob._.merc

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Sep 1, 2017
102
14
33
23
I have a 4 and a half inch pleco in there with him. Could it be possible he is a suspect?
 

Mighty Wizard

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 8, 2017
207
191
46
33
Everywhere
I have a 4 and a half inch pleco in there with him. Could it be possible he is a suspect?
Yes definitely if the Pleco is not properly fed then it is quite likely to start sucking on other fishes slime coat, ganoid scaled fish like Bichirs in particular as their slime coat is thicker and more nutritious than on many other fish. A lot of people here will tell you to never even house Plecos together with such fish because of this, as a compromised slime coat usually equals a dead Bichir.

Your tank also seems to be free of both plants and algae, which means that your pleco is not only lacking protein but is also seriously hungry otherwise. Most common species of Pleco have high metabolism and grow quite fast in the right conditions, and will need a much more varied diet than thin sheets of green algae.

I've never seen what this looks like in person, so I can't say for sure, but now that you mention the Pleco I would move the bichir to a seperate tank and treat with salt right away, then hope for the best I guess.
 
Last edited:

thefredpit

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2012
2,969
2,997
179
United States
are you talking about the white coloration on the nose? If so it looks like when mine runs into the glass. As far as darker coloration it is probably the substrate my sen got real dark when it was on black substrate
 

thefredpit

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2012
2,969
2,997
179
United States
Look closely it almost looks like the slime coat has become loose or shredded.
I wasn't sure if he was talking about that or the white spot on the nose. Sometimes when badly stressed bichirs can shed their slime coats, usually with clean water and food they heal. It doesn't look like a pleco did it though those are usually round white patches
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mighty Wizard

magpie

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,552
5,324
164
Oregon
What is your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates?

Agreed it looks like slime coat.

Pleco issues that I've seen show rounded areas... his looks like stress of some sort. There's been no major changes?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mighty Wizard

kno4te

MFK Moderator
Staff member
Global Moderator
MFK Member
Dec 24, 2005
18,758
21,472
480
USA
Keep water clean. Don't look infected. Should be fine after a some good and clean water.

As mentioned water quality should be posted or atleast addressed to help make sure this goes away.
 
  • Like
Reactions: magpie

SteelNSorcery

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2017
25
8
3
34
West Virginia
Do some water changes and add a slightly larger dose of slime coat+ looks like some stress or pleco scale munching. I would separate them if possible for safety and ease of observation.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store