L177 Gold Nugget Sunken Belly

I just purchased my next challenge to breed. The L177 Gold Nugget. I got a group of 5 fish and 4/5 were healthy and in great condition. Until I saw the 5th fish with severe sunken belly. I have never seen sunken belly this severe in person before and I had to do whatever I could to save it. Lets just say I don't know how this fish was even alive in the state that I received it.

L177 Gold Nugget with Sunken Belly.

For the Gold Nugget to thrive, they need fast flowing waters and their natural food source is aufwuchs, which is a type of algae biofilm which contains invertebrates. Making the transition from the wild to an aquarium they are not used to the foods we give them and can only hope they adapt to their new conditions. They are notorious for not eating, and also containing sunken bellies due to parasites.

Let me start by saying... I don't trust anyone. I don't care who you are, or what treatment you have done or given them. If I haven't treated the fish I received my way, then there is no way it will be going into my system with the others until it is done. I know of others who are told or like to keep their fish in a hospital tank for up to 6 weeks just to "observe" if there is anything wrong with them. Unfortunately I don't believe in that method. I'd rather treat for everything I know and have come across before, to make sure they are healthy, and eating properly before I put them in with the rest of my other fish.

This isn't a cheap hobby. These fish cost lots of money, upwards of $1000+ for some and I want to make sure what I receive is healthy and won't infect everything else I have.

My method for quarantining is as follows:

1 dose of Levamisole/Praziquantel Mix for 3 days, 50% water change.
1 dose of Trimethoprim Sulfate for 3 days, 50% water change.
1 dose of Trimethoprim Sulfate for 3 days, 50% water change.
1 dose of Trimethoprim Sulfate for 3 days, 50% water change.
1 dose of Metronidazole for 3 days, 50% water change.
1 dose of Levamisole/Praziquantel Mix for 3 days, 50% water change.

During this entire process I was worried they wouldn't take to their new food source immediately or at all. I started off with EBO Foods Artemia Softgran because of its strong smell that emanates from it, I was hoping it would attract the L177 to it a bit more.
Please note: I don't usually do 2 rounds of Levamisole/Praziquantel, but I wanted to be 100% sure everything was killed.

The next morning I was glad to see all the food gone and their poo was looking very healthy. Long dark strands were scattered all on the tank floor, and an added bonus was all 5 fish were still alive after the first dose of Levamisole/Praziquantel. The fish are kept in a 55L tank, and with water changes only occurring after 3 days I don't want to overfeed the fish and have the tank dirty with excess fish waste too quickly.

On the next 3 days I tested out and rotated between Seafood Softgran, Spirulina Softgran and Sponge Softgran. All of these were left without a trace the next morning so I knew they were eating well and no problems with the food. With the L177 Gold Nugget favouring vegetables, I decided to try the EBO Veggie Sticks next. Their ingredients are simple. 50% Peas, 50% Pumpkin. Once again there was nothing left behind. Maybe I lucked out with this group. They're one of my most active plecos I now keep and definitely and aren't shy at all.

Still I continued with my medication process all the while keeping an eye on the sick fish and watching him bounce back from his condition.

L177 Gold Nugget after treatment.

Throughout their quarantine process, I fed Spirulina Softgran a bit more than the other varieties. With the natural Leucine in the foods, it helps boost their yellow colouring naturally as well as the Spirulina addition to help with their daily intake of greens which they favour.

5 Healthy L177 Gold Nuggets.

With the fish accepting the range of foods I presented to them without any issues, I will have peace of mind knowing that they are all eating well and am hoping to have this guys breeding in the future.

L177 released into their new tank in the system.

Everyone has their own methods of quarantining fish. Some have none, this is just a documentation of what I do for any fish that I purchase. Especially on fish where I don't know where they have come from.