If your pleco is breathing more rapidly, it can be because of various reasons: Make sure to test your water parameters for a nitrite/ammonia spike as this extracts oxygen. he has been banging in to the top of the tank really hard. Clean the fish tank and regularly change the water to keep things clean. Quite often bottom dwellers do just sit and not move. No matter what we did, he would'nt come out. I don't have a picture but he looks kind of like this: Since he is a common pleco he is going to grow too big even for a 90 gallon (plus the waste he produces), if you would like we can help you pick out a medium sized pleco that will fit in with your other fish if you are willing to rehome your current pleco. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. Turned out, that fish wasn't a female but the male had trapped the less dominant male and choked him (though there were plenty of caves). Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? It may not display this or other websites correctly. If the pleco doesnt respond to you moving it around but still breathes, you have to provide it will clean water as soon as possible and test your water. Barely breathing! certain species have apparently demonstarted the ability to absorb oxygen into their blood through their stomac by swallowing it. Did you just get him? Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! My Pleco did that for a while too. Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. If the water condition and bacterial infections caused the situation, then youll need to fix those problems. pleco During a water change, I also removed a decoration containing a 2" common pleco and placed all the decorations in an igloo cooler overnight[was installing an ugj system] to my amazement the next day while I was replacing the decor, low and behold there was my pleco in the bottom of the cooler, he had been in there for over 20 hrs. Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. He is still alive. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. A sunken belly is the result of the gut flora dying off and even though these fish are very hardy, it will lead to death. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. This can happen to any fish if it does not have enough oxygen in its environment, if it is too cold or hot, or if the water quality has deteriorated. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. Not related but kind of funny: I also have a Whiptail Catfish, if you're worried about fish that don't move, don't get one, they will just sit there even if another fish sits ontop of them or you touch them or anything. Hallo everyone, I have a question concerning my 4 year old 10.6 inch pleco. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. A pleco dying is often the result of bad information and lack of knowhow about the species. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was ONE TOUGH FISH. I would be more concerned if I touched him and he didn't swim away. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. Plecos need to be kept in fish tanks with high oxygen levels. Pleco turning white is one of the signs your pleco is dying Temperature, stress, food, environment, water or bullying all can lead to discoloration of plecos and eventually death. Nitrite is the most dangerous, and should always be at 0 ppm. Please help! Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. T. Swearingen, http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=126, S.Barbatus & Black C. Schultzei breeding tank. Poor conditions in the tank can contribute to infections. Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. As you can tell, its important to treat things as soon as you can. If your pleco has seemingly rips/cuts in its fins, its most likely fin rot. Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. Same my pleco only comes out when the lights are off and since ive got an enenemy (sorry if i spelled wrong) he just stays there and dosent move at ALL even in the day and the lights are off i guess he loves darkness an also cus hes hiding from my guppie named bob. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. Also, does he have any places to hide? This could happen to any fish owner, so it is essential to understand the causes of these symptoms and how to treat them. I doubt this is the issue, but my pleco was acting odd, curving and swimming like he was intoxicated flying from one side to the other, no CO2, regular parameters, but I checked the temperature, like yours mine was breathing up a storm, but I raised the temp 4 degrees up and he was fine my temp dropped to 72, and he was going bananas, but after about 20 minutes I guess he caught a warm front and hugged the heater damn near. My guppy is laying on its side at the bottom of the tank and still moving. Now that weve gone over signs your pleco is dying, the most likely causes and solutions, its time to prevent it from happening in the future. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. They are seriously chill dudes lol. Problems can occur when caring for plecos. Fish laying on the bottom of the tank and breathing deeply require action as soon as possible. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. Often, its very hard to tell whether your pleco is sick or not. Recently, I watched. Most plecostomus species are nocturnal, meaning that they are more active at night than during the day. Ich is very contagious and can be fatal, so removing the sick fish from the tank is important if other fish inhabit the same environment. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. Even the tiny three-inch long zebra plecos are carnivores. ), -Research nutrition based on specific pleco species, fin edges turn black or brown and look frayed, have white dots (another possible symptom of ich). Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. Did you add any new fish recently, particularly any wild caught or F1s? Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. It could simply be that the pleco fish succumbed to an illness during the night. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. JavaScript is disabled. 3. Make sure to find the cause so that you can add antibiotics if needed. Sorry your pleco is ill. every day I feed the fish in my school aquarium and I've notice the pleco doesn't ever move. Hopefully, this will never happen in your fish tank. It can also be due to stress, so separating the bloated fish from its tank mates will ensure a stress-free environment for your pleco to recover. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? Can be seen here, incuding specific details and how-to's on some of my special features. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. If your plecos seem to be losing color rapidly, then its a sign that theyre dying or getting very sick. It is an extreme problem with oxygen to have, but it can occur if you don't do a good job maintaining the tank. Try touching the fish and see if it reacts. Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. This is constant. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. Experts Answer, How To Raise Pleco Babies (Full Guide With Pictures), Cory Catfish Tank Mate Guide (+ 11 Best Tank Mates For Cory Catfish), The Ideal & Healthiest Diet For Cory Catfish, Odd Corydoras Behavior & Stress Explained (Full Guide). You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. Keep the filter, heater, and lights on for long enough periods of time to ensure their comfort. They will hide, or just freeze like a rock if they think they are in danger or are freaking out. This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. This is the main reason why we cycle aquarium tanks. If you want fish that are livelier during the day, youd be better off looking for a different type of fish. Why is my fish laying on its side at the bottom? This disease is not contagious but should be treated or death will follow. Youll be able to fix things before they get bad so that your fish will stay alive. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. Plecos are often misunderstood because they dont like to be shown off, which makes sense given their wild origins. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. The cause of most of these symptoms stems from the water conditions. However, many times, the death of a plecostomus is avoidable by some simple changes in their care. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the. You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. If your fishs eyes appear to be bulging out of its head, it may be suffering from pop eye or exophthalmos. (+ 11 Ways To Stop Your Pleco From Eating Plants), Breeding Bristlenose Plecos (With Pictures), Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? Are you watching him 24/7? Plecos turn white for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: poor nutrition, disease, stress, or inadequate tank conditions. However, if you tap the fish tank, itll likely spring up and start swimming. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. if he is acting strange i would try to get him in a small treatment tank with lots of oxygen, dose a general med and salt would be a good start till you can figure out what is wrong with the little fella. A healthy probably pregnant bristlenose pleco female. Home > Plecos > Care > 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It]. Especially because plecos love oxygen-rich water (they often live in fast-flowing streams and rivers) adding an airstone or pointing your filter outlet in a way that it creates bubbles is useful. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Of course, its often human error that causes plecos to die in fish tanks. When the fish tank stays dirty, its going to cause stress to the fish, and that will make them sick. I went and asked to the shop from where I got that pleco. If all he is getting is algae (either fresh from the tank or wafer form) he may not be feeling very good. Youll also need to fix issues with water quality in the tank while solving stress problems. from the previous caretakers who did a pretty bad job in taking care of fish so I wouldn't be suprised if it is sick or something like that. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. Adding fish without acclimating them causes shock. Unfortunately, catching him would be all but impossible. Fish tank Pet fish Pet Animals and Pets. 1 - Loss of Color. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Im not sure if somethings wrong or not. Common pleco not moving after tank flush! Keep reading to know more. Look at the fish closely and try to see if its gills are moving. I feed my fish with a dim light on in the room so they are used to light and I can check them over for disease without disturbing them because they think it is the sun setting. The Complete Answer, Can Plecos And Shrimp Live Together? It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. So I just went to put food in the fish tank. My pleco is not sucking anything please help!!! Ich is a condition that involves the fish being infected by parasites. We might get a modest commission at no extra cost to you. If your pleco is sleeping: They will typically be in a motionless or relaxed position, with their fins and gills not moving as much as usual. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. I've haven't tried touching him by hand but when I touched him with a net it seemed like he tried to run away but couldn't. Sometimes the fish might even be upside down. This can be caused by many things, such as poor water conditions, stress, or poor nutrition. The best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. Plecostomus fish, commonly called plecos, are relatively easy to take care of. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. There has to be something wrong. Provide adequate space and decor (ornaments and positioning of objects) so there is no danger for your pleco. Just keep an eye on him. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. Low immune system. It can get habitual to the routine, and they follow the owner's hand movements. This happened all of a sudden. When using tap water you need to use tap water conditioner. For plecos, most types need a tank thats 30 gallons in size, but there are smaller species (like bristlenose & clown plecos) that can live in a 20-gallon tank. You can make acclimating to the tank easier for the fish by taking the time to float the bag before putting it in the tank. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. It very well might be dead if it doesnt appear to be moving at all. The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. Weve touched a little on improving the tank setup for your pleco catfish. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. 0. Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. Maracyn Two is a product that you can purchase to treat fin rot. All Rights Reserved. To revive a dying pleco, perform a big water change and make sure the water parameters are optimal. It's just another misleading thing that pet stores advertise. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . You need to feed the fish the right type of food to keep them alive and healthy. I had similar problems when I had a faulty regulator. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). My Albino catfish does this all the time. When you dont treat this disease, it can cause the fish to lose vision or even lose the eye. We finished breaking down our multiple tanks, loaded the moving truck, drove it for three hours, spent two more hours waiting for the moving helpers, got the truck unloaded, started setting up the tanks, put the decor back in, added the fish. and the bristle nose swam out of the wood when we put in algae wafers. A long, long, long time ago when I was young my friends and I always had tanks. Pleco catfish are often kept in the aquarium hobby because, Plecos and cory catfish are two extremely popular catfish species, Pleco catfish are one of the most popular fish in, Pleco spawning Plecos are cave-breeders, and they spawn exclusively in, For a limited time, you can download our FREE pleco catfish ebook, 2022 KeepingCatfish.com - Privacy policy Webdesign by Websmart Websites. Its possible that your pleco is feeling threatened by the filter, so its hiding behind it to feel safer. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. JavaScript is disabled. Pleco catfish don't move a lot he started they're nocturnal. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. Generally he is pretty active but sometime he just stay on one stop and don't move at all, even for like 1-2 days. If the fish is hiding among the plants or in a cave and not moving, thats perfectly normal. Is the fish dead or is it really sick? He also has a white spot on his eye.

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