Infections can be remedied by giving the fish medications. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Another result of starvation might be aggression, or your pleco sucking on the slime coat of fish like we sometimes see with goldfish. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Posted on Last updated: February 14, 2023. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. Plecos need to be kept in fish tanks with high oxygen levels. My pleco did the same thing, he still hides in his cave for long periods of time but if I sneak up on the tank he is usually swimming around. My name is Jeff, and my goal with this site is to share everything I've learned over the years about caring for aquatic life. Tap water contains chlorine and chlorimine that are toxic to fish. Theyre caused by one of the following things: If your pleco has a cloudy eye but acts normal, it will probably go away by itself. Cloudy eyes in fish appear as a white cast or film over the eye. A swollen belly isnt a good sign. Floating the fish for an hour or so will help it to get used to the water temperature of its new home. I drop an algae wafer in every other day and he usually jumps right on it but since he stays in his little all the time now Im not sure if he eats it. Just keep an eye on him. To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. What can I do? The pleco has stayed motionless in the same spot and position for a few weeks and I started wondering if it was dead so this morning I took a net and stuck it near him and he freaked out, swam around and went back to the same spot. An oxygen deficit is caused by one of the following reasons: A lack of oxygen should be reacted to immediately with a big water change and the addition of an airstone. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or EAT? - YouTube This is of course innocent. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). My fish is alive and moving, but isnt breathing? It could simply be that the pleco fish succumbed to an illness during the night. If you arent regularly testing the water using a pH balance testing kit, then youre going to have a harder time keeping the fish alive. ive heard a story of one spending a few hours on the carpet under a tank (jumper).. when he was found his skin was all dry and his owner thought he was dead but when he went to pick him up he moved.. so after a few weeks in a recovery tank he was back to normal During our latest move, Wataugachicken and I could'nt dislodge one of the bristle nose plecs from our largest chunk of driftwood. You are using an out of date browser. I think that it is nothing to worry about. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? I read that they loved blanched vegetables, so I have given them a cucumber slice the last three nights for about an hour and then took it out. Most of them can be caused by poor water conditions in the tank. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. There are actually many signs that show you that plecos are in rough shape. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Touch the fish and see if you can get it to spring up. This is constant. You must log in or register to reply here. If your plecos fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fishs body. 3. This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. You may see this in plecos that don't get enough to eat. Once mouth and gills are open, you'll need to resuscitate the fish by flushing water over the gills and there are a few ways of doing this. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. Although some plecos do like to eat algae, not all of them do. This process involves floating the bag on top of the tank. Of course, some of the fish might simply have genetic issues. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Make sure the tank has been cycled before introducing any fish to it so there are no dangerous spikes in the water. Does he look as tough he's thin or sick? It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. Whatever was wrong has seemed to be fixed as he's now behaving like normal. If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? Not real sure though since don't feel like doing an experiment. They love to eat, and you should try to feed them as much as you can. This behavior can also occur when fish are exposed to high temperatures. Your fish may be suffering from ich if their skin appears to have white dots that look like salt or sugar flakes. 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. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? Are there females in the tank with him? If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. One time a buddy was cleaning his tank and took all the fish out and put them in a bucket. If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. Monitor your fishs feeding to ensure he is eating. I came over to his house about 4 hours later and noticed the plec was missing. Later in this guide, well go over the exact symptoms of dropsy. If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. Hello guys, thx for your answer and sry for my late reply. A filter is a must. I have a fish who is laying at the bottom of the tank breathing rapidly whi My betta fish is laying at its side at the bottom of his tank and looks like hes struggling to My fish is laying on the bottom of the tank still breathing, Oscar laying on one side and only breathing (not moving at all) since morning. We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. Quite often bottom dwellers do just sit and not move. I love my animals. Change the Tank Water Frequently. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. he sound fine, try touching himand he will probably swim away. Swim Bladder Disorder: How to Tell if Your Floating Pet Fish Is Dead Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. Baby plecos have been known to die when the water temperature fluctuates too much. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. Abdominal swelling can be caused by many things including the following: stress, tank conditions, and constipation. White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. I have had him in this tank and the fish with him for over a year. Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. Regular water changes are an important part of fish tank maintenance. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. I still don't know for sure what happened, but I'm going to blame the CO2. Small anekdote: I have a tank of zebra plecos (L46) (the fish that costs $200+ a piece). He (or she) is normally pretty active, being a good vacuum cleaner for the tank. Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. A swollen belly with pleco catfish is caused by constipation or even worse, dropsy. Stress. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. Ill go over how to tell if your pleco is dying, the underlying causes of those symptoms, and how to prevent them from dying in the future. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. If you want your plecostomus to be more active, one suggestion is to provide it with live plants and driftwood to use as hiding spots, feed it live insects and invertebrates, and offer it a variety of tank mates. Both stress and poor water quality can make it more likely that the fish will get infected. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, other reasons why a pleco might start floating. Click here. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. 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. 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. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. Filtration is crucial to keep your water parameters optimal, as pleco catfish are big polluters. 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). Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. His very favorite food though is fresh raw zucchini. Some even buy them specifically to try to keep the fish tank clean. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH? Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving : r/Aquariums - Reddit 7 Menacing Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - 2023 - Learn About Pet Make sure to ask your fish store whether they have quarantined the fish already. Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! They are seriously chill dudes lol. I dont know what to do, i know that he is still alive. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. Just as important is what you put in the tank. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Youll want to scoop the fish out of the tank and dispose of it. Why is My Fish Laying On the Side? - Aquarium Hunter Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. Your pleco needs immediate care in both cases. They take a full breath, in and out, about 6 times a second. Hello, I have this pleco for like 6 months. One day, I was excited to see the male had trapped the female in a cave, so I was expecting some babies.However, the next morning I waked up noticing the fish death in the cave. Very bad water conditions might even directly kill the fish. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. I had similar problems when I had a faulty regulator. How long have you had the tank? Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. Young animals are sensitive to too much protein. When I first set up my pressurized co2 system I was gassing my fish out. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms, the causes, and treatment options for your pleco. When the fish tank stays dirty, its going to cause stress to the fish, and that will make them sick. If your pleco has seemingly rips/cuts in its fins, its most likely fin rot. Youll also learn about why plecos might die so that you might be able to turn things around moving forward. Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good. . Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. In most cases, it is poisoning by ammonia, nitrite, or other nitrogen. The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. whats wrong? Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. It can be caused by elevated ammonia levels in the tank or an injury that resulted in a bacterial infection. Plecos are freshwater fish that need to live in water that is between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius (72-82F). New pleco -- not moving. Problem? | Tropical Fish Forums WHats wrong? Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? My Pleco Isnt Moving | My Aquarium Club Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. If he's alive and swims away why are you worried? My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Breeding bristlenose plecos is certainly an exciting thing to do. Highly recommend algae wafers. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. I did my weekly 50% water change with my regular EI dosing which didn't bother him at all. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. Physical damage. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. 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. Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. Adding fish without acclimating them causes shock. They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. Most of these signs of death are preventable by monitoring the water conditions and performing weekly water changes. Depending on the species, feed a varied diet of both vegetables and protein-rich foods that sink to the bottom. Barely breathing! The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. Plecos are strong swimmers, so it may be necessary to have two people present in order to remove them quickly. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . This way, you can manage them and check for potential diseases. My fish is breathing slowly and is laying at the bottom of his tank on his side. My male sits in his cave or in front of it to attract the ladies. Typically, loss of color is associated with poor tank conditions. Plecos do not have scales and they tend to rot really fast when they die, so as was mentioned above, you. Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. Scraping off small pieces and the biofilm growing on them is beneficial for their digestive system. If your temperature and pH are out of this range, you need to take steps to remedy the situation. They do generaly but if it is stunted then I would say I lived to its maximum potential given the circumstances. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. Now the tank is in pretty bad shape (were working on it!) If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. You really dont want to end up with a whole tank of death fish because you put in one sick fish. If you want to know everything about setting up a pleco tank, you can read our full guide on it. If the chain is broken, this creates dangerous circumstances. There are other reasons why a pleco might start floating, but its possible that the fish could be dead. (his color blends in real well with the wall - and where he wedged himself in is hard to see unless you are looking for it. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank.
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