Please help Bn pleco problem

Had my bn pleco for a while maybe a year hes just growing his bristles so hes still young... He has been doing perfect growing like a weed living with some ghost shrimp and plants and driftwood .. But today I looked at him and his whole head is swollen, so swollen that the two gill looking things on each side above the first set of fins is permanently flared. You know the things that males flare when there mad our scared or whatever the case... In fact all of his head is an abnormal size... I have 5 other plecos of the same breed in other tanks I was doing some comparisons. His abdomen is extended slightly no discoloring hes albino I would see the difference... Please help me figure out what to do... I was thinking bloat but the head being abnormally sized has confussed me... I still dont know how to upload photos sorry...

I only found one other site asking about the same problem and the answers that came in were not definitive. Two possible things are bacterial infection from water quality or stunted growth from being in too small a tank. I don't know if any of this helps you, but unfortunately the BN didn't make it from what I read, which to me sounds more like bacterial infection is possibly more the culprit than stunted growth. Sorry.....

Hey contact Khrister he breeds pleco and is very smart with plecos

A pic sure would help. Try this.

https://usafishbox.forumotion.com/t3696-how-to-post-a-pic-picture-walkthrough

did you isolated him? u dnt want him infecting anything else.

A pic is needed for sure ! Then maybe one of us could help .

Best photo I could get he is in his own tank. I am treating him with a antbacteria treatment. And I gave him a water change hoping for results....

Him looks like a good healthy male @!

Your pleco looks healthy

i think hes just a little fat. lol. otherwise healthy good looking pleco.

often times it is when they start exhibiting unusual behavior is when there is a cause for concern

None of my other plecos mouths are buffy like that, not even my full grown one that had all his bristles.... Those little side bristle are supose to only come out when he is stressed.... Not stay out all day everyday.... If yall think im over reacting I guess I could be but he looks different from all my other plecos.... Thanks everyone hoefully he is perfectly normal... Just growing..... :D

He isnt a healthy pleco... The swelling in what I would call his cheek area is much larger filled with a clear liquid, he has clear filled bubbles that keep getting larger under his fins... I have been treating him for abdnomal bloat no improvement and popeye because the swelling caused his eyes to pop out... Would put another picture but my phone camera isnt if the best quality and someone may not see the issues. Its said that im watching him die.

well thats unfortunate he took a turn for the worst. only thing you can do now is isolate him and treat him.

treat will a general antibiotic. maybe CLOAT would handle it. it is my go to med with strang cases as it treats most everything.

Thanks holeyrock, I really am out of ideas...

same status on the BN? as long as it hasn't gotten worse i guess it's ok...

The clear filled bubbles have popped and grown back, the layer of skin holding the liquid in is so transparent and thin there sure to pop again... Has know one seen this before?

The pleco died yesterday....

Aww thats a bummer!

BUMMER !! Sorry .. wish we could have helped . >=/

aww that stinks im sorry, those are cool plecos :(

It is what it is, but it sure is said I couldnt find a diagnosis... Hopefully it never happens again with any other fish, cause I cant treat it...

sad*

yep, sorry.. :\