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HELP ASAP

2K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  Little-Fizz 
#1 ·
I just added my second dose of Marcide in my tank and my pleco keeps laying upside down! Is he dying? Should I move him over to another tank I have? The water is not heated but is filtered. HELP!
 
#2 ·
Hi, I don't know what Marcide is? Why did you treat the tank?

Can you post your tank size and water parameters please? Did you cycle the tank?

What does the medication have in it? Any copper? Thats enough to kill a pleco. Is the other tank you have cycled? I'm not sure its a good idea, it will probably stress him out... But being in the medicated tank probably isn't very healthy... I don't really know what to tell you about that one, sorry.
 
#4 ·
Sorry about the limited information. I was in a fit of panic. The pleco seems to be fine today.

I have a 55 gallon and I was treating the tank for ich. I had posted earlier in the week about Maracide and was told it is safe to treat with a pleco. The active ingredients in Maracide is malachite green and chitosan.

My other tank is a 29 gallon that was fully cycled for years but I moved all fish out and into the 55 gallon a year ago. I kept the filter on in the 29 gallon but the heater is not working. There are only snails in the tank.

I am worried about doing the third dose of Maracide. When I added this the pleco literally was standing straight on its tail not sucking on anything. Then it fell slowly backward. When I poked him he jumped up and swam in the cave but it was definitely weird. Should I skip the third dose? I do not want to harm my pleco, but I also want to make sure the ich was completely killed off.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks - Jeannine
 
#5 ·
:? I have no experience with this medication but if someone on this forum said it would be safe for plecos then I imagine it would be. Did they say to use at half dosage? I wouldn't skip the third treatment because then you will have wasted all your efforts to get rid of the ich, Try only adding half the amount recommended and see how he reacts to that. You'll have to use the treatment for a little bit longer if your only using half, but it will be safer for your pleco. Did you raise the temperature of the tank?

I doubt the 29 gallon is still cycled, what kind of snails are we talking about? Pond snails? I highly doubt their bioload would be enough to sustain the beneficial bacteria in your filter for a year with no fish in the tank.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the response. There was no mention of using at half dose on the bottle. I will use half dose one day and then the other half the next day and see how that goes.

I am not sure what type snails these are. Little brown ones.

Thanks for your help.

:cheers:

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#8 ·
It wouldn't say it on the bottle, its just that plecos are more sensitive to medications then other fish. so only using half dosage doesn't bother them so much.

Sounds like pond snails, I doubt they would keep the tank going, like I'm sure its enough to keep it good for them but as soon as you added a fish you would start a mini cycle.

But as Willow said, keep us updated!! Good luck I hope everything works out for you.
 
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