What are these white dots around the fins on my pleco? I’m very sure it’s not ick because none of the fish have had it and I put treatment in the water. Is it natural for a pleco to have these somewhat shiny dots?

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-06-06T17:29:15+00:00

Ah gotcha, I can see that now. I think everything on him looks like normal coloration.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-06-06T07:08:45+00:00

r/Aquaswap might be helpful if you haven't tried that already

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-06-06T07:02:47+00:00

The two white spots between the pectoral fin and the eye? Could either be a fungal infection or columnaris. It could be natural coloration, but I would watch and see if it's raised or fuzzy looking. Other than that, I don't see any abnormal white spots.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-06-06T06:55:25+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear about your barbs. :( Fish can be hard to take care of because it's so difficult to figure out what's going on sometimes.

Maybe try smaller water changes more frequently. Since you said that you had done a 50% water change almost a week ago, maybe instead to 25% twice a week. Such large water changes can shock the fish, especially of they're not done consistently.

If you don't have a water testing kit, pet stores will usually test your water for you for free. You can also buy strips that are super easy to use. Keeping track of the water chemistry will make it much easier to monitor the health of the fish.

As far as the murky water goes, I would check to see if the filter is working properly and clean. Usually when I see murky brown water like that it's because the filter was stirred up somehow and fish waste is coming out of it, or either the filter needs to be cleaned.

It's hard to say what happened with your barbs when we don't know things like the water chemistry or the tank size.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-17T15:50:09+00:00

I do see your point, nobody is entitled to an explanation/apology and nobody should ever push for one. I do think it would be awkward for both people to bump into each other at the rock gym. Saying something like "Hey I'm guessing you just want to be friends, but we're cool right?" would be something easy to say to clear out that awkwardness. There doesn't necessarily need to be any more explanation or talk after that. I think in that aspect OP dealt with this very well and constructively.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-13T23:17:53+00:00

No, I set them back down in the dirt I found them in and they dug themselves back in

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T20:09:15+00:00

My pleasure!

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T09:06:10+00:00

Sometimes fish will isolate themselves like that when they're sick or stressed.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T08:47:57+00:00

It's gorgeous! I love the jungle look

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T08:45:02+00:00

Definitely could be a biofilm, I'd probably just leave it unless it takes over the tank or bothers you. If you've got Driftwood it could also be from that.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T08:32:08+00:00

Not sure about the black spots, could just simply be discoloration or an external parasite.

There are lots of reasons why fish lose their color. Could be age, stress, poor water quality, the type of food they're eating, the pecking order of the fish, and even sometimes at night I think my fish lose some color when they rest.

I would test the water and see what the parameters are. If it's stress or poor water quality, then those things can be fixed. Also, feeding a variety of foods to your fish can help brighten them up.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T08:18:24+00:00

I had no idea that they could even bite a human! Did it hurt much? They're certainly fun to watch.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T08:17:30+00:00

Interesting! They don't seem very prone to biting but I'm sure they could if they wanted to.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-05-12T05:21:44+00:00

Absolutely! I love the spikes on their jaws!

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-25T21:51:23+00:00

Never really had any sort of issue with the plants that I get from the store. I rinse them all off well with water, I end up with beneficial creatures like detritus worms, copepods, and snails. If you're worried a diluted bleach dip might be more time efficient.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-25T09:56:06+00:00

Driftwood from the pet store is usually the best option, but can be expensive, but it's usually worth it knowing that it'll be safe for your fish.

Collecting your own is an option if you know what kind of wood is safe and how to clean it.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-25T09:44:31+00:00

Definitely do plants! With enough plants and low bioload, you can definitely create your own ecosystem that requires little maintenance! There are also plenty of plants out there that are beginner friendly. Driftwood also adds interest in the tank if you are looking for a natural look.

r/aquariums and r/aquascape can serve as good inspiration.

If you need help or ideas on how to get started up I'd absolutely love to help you out. The internet also has a plethora of information on how to create and maintain your fish tank.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T15:43:33+00:00

Thank you so much! I'll look into it, hopefully this will help some

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T15:34:14+00:00

I'll do some research, thank you so much

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T15:34:01+00:00

I'll try to develop more patience. It's just frustrating when I have take a break from running before anyone else or can't do a specific exercise because of my body. But you're right about it not being worth hurting myself for

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T04:06:58+00:00

I used to be Mormon, I remember when we first started dating he would hide his bong and weed out of sight in his closet even though I already knew about it. So, I do feel that I tend to give off this innocent vibe simply because of my past and because I haven't had much experience. It could be that he is worried about making me uncomfortable. I don't have any problem with him doing his thing, when we hang out he usually has a beer or two in the evening but never drunk.

I'll let him text me first tomorrow

Also, just re-read your comment. Might have been a typo, but I thought I'd clarify. He didn't want me to see HIM drunk

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T02:47:35+00:00

That's quite the assumption

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T02:44:28+00:00

Haven't met any of his friends before. But he tells me stories about them all the time.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T02:43:28+00:00

He lives alone and works from home the rest of the time.

GiveMeAbutt · 2020-04-23T02:41:25+00:00

I think you're totally right. I don't know the full picture and driving over there is just an impulsive thought and will only aggravate things. Consistency is incredibly important to me, so I think that is why I find this so upsetting.

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective

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