A pleco might choose to remain very still and stay in the same spot all day. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? I had similar problems when I had a faulty regulator. However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. My Angel fish keeps laying on her side at the bottom of the My betta fish is laying on his side and breathing heavily, Is our Goldfish dying? It was not just one of my plecos but several. Just like any other fish, they need a certain environment to feel good. Look at the fish closely and try to see if its gills are moving. Plecos are strong swimmers, so it may be necessary to have two people present in order to remove them quickly. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. These are great fish and you want them to thrive under your care. !My betta fish isnt moving but he is alive. Feed your pleco a varied diet, that meets the species needs. 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. What's wrong with him? Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. Fast forward to the next day. Small anekdote: I have a tank of zebra plecos (L46) (the fish that costs $200+ a piece). I know one of my tetras had mouth fungus and I used aquari-sol and it took care of the problem. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. 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 better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. Plecos can stay in the same place for long periods of time, or move and go back without you knowing it. If you catch some of the signs early enough, then itll be possible to turn everything around. Hallo everyone, I have a question concerning my 4 year old 10.6 inch pleco. Both eyes will appear to protrude if there is an infection present. If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. 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). (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. Is it dying? 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. When the fish tank stays dirty, its going to cause stress to the fish, and that will make them sick. 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. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. Poor nutrition might cause loss of color as well. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. Put the torch on dim and slowly turn it up and the Plec is there. Theres nothing wrong with a pleco than has a rounded belly (its in fact healthy) but if it looks bloated, this is bad. One time a buddy was cleaning his tank and took all the fish out and put them in a bucket. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. That caused me to look at all of the fish, and I saw that many were very pale. When using tap water you need to use tap water conditioner. Diseases and Treatment. I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. Its a quite common sight: a pleco laying on its back. He's doing good now. How can I make my plecostomus more active? Pleco rotting fins. I think that it is nothing to worry about. 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. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. Today, I found him lying on his back on the floor of the tank but he is still alive. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms, the causes, and treatment options for your pleco. While in fact, there are hundreds. 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. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. A fish that doesnt react to being touched is probably dead. This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. 2 - Rotting Fins. If you cant see the gills moving, this suggests that the fish is truly dead. If an injury is to blame, then it might get better on its own if you keep feeding the fish and monitoring the tank conditions carefully. You are using an out of date browser. Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. Add an airstone if your filter doesnt create enough surface movement. Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. As per him, he had that pleco for like 3-4 years. Even the pleco was quite all right till yesterday. If there is no reaction, then the fish is truly dead. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Can be seen here, incuding specific details and how-to's on some of my special features. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. Ensure you follow the package instructions to ensure proper dosing for your fish. Breeding bristlenose plecos is certainly an exciting thing to do. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. Here are some tips on how you can notice a sick pleco thats possibly even dying. This will make you assume that its dead. As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. Pet stores often sell plecos as algae eaters or cleaner fish which is why you might think it doesnt need its own tank and can survive on leftovers/waste. 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. T. Swearingen, http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=126, S.Barbatus & Black C. Schultzei breeding tank. This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. Keeping an eye on the water parameters and cleaning the tank regularly will help to prevent things like this from happening. Click here. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. It might help you to figure out how to help the fish by doing some troubleshooting. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. When a pleco is stressed, it lowers its immunity and increases the risk of fast death. Youll also learn about why plecos might die so that you might be able to turn things around moving forward. Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. This is absolutely not true. The cause of most of these symptoms stems from the water conditions. Plecostomus fish, commonly called plecos, are relatively easy to take care of. 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. It might need a bit more time to get used to its new environment. I came over to his house about 4 hours later and noticed the plec was missing. These fish enjoy hiding and they often stay in the same place at the bottom of the aquarium. Cloudy eye is caused by bacteria and if your pleco is under stress, has had an injury, or lower immune system it can come up. Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. Now the tank is in pretty bad shape (were working on it!) How long have you had the tank? Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. 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. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. He is still alive. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. If your pleco is losing its color and slowly turning white, this might be an indication that it's either sick or dying. The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. You need to feed the fish the right type of food to keep them alive and healthy. What kind of disease? Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. So I just went to put food in the fish tank. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. Pleco fish are amazing animals and very interesting for aquarists. However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. There are other reasons why a pleco might start floating, but its possible that the fish could be dead. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. Make sure to take notice of this behavior, and to check your water parameters to know whether there might be a cause for this. Do not . Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. API Liquid Super Ich Cure is another product you can purchase to treat ich. Foods that sink to the bottom where the plecos can eat them. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Also, does he have any places to hide? Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. These fish simply arent active during the day. The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. Cloudy eyes in fish appear as a white cast or film over the eye. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. Im not sure if somethings wrong or not. You can get something called Stress Coat at the pet store, it basically removes any chlorine that may be in your water, it has also been proven to reduce fish stress. If the oxygen levels get really low, plecos might stop moving. WHats wrong? One of our goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank and not moving. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. . Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. Most of the time, a pleco laying on its back or side is normal as they sometimes rest in this position. Did you just get him? My pleco is not sucking anything please help!!! Increasing the temperature in the sick fishs tank is another way to combat the disease and aid recovery. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. It's scared and it's stressed and it's hiding, because it's in a strange place after being caught and boxed up and moved. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not movi By entering this site you declare JavaScript is disabled. Clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank with a gravel vacuum, and make sure any decorations are clean as well. One of the most common questions I hear is why do my pleco likes to hide and not come out. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. If your pleco has a sunken belly, its starving due to malnutrition. certain species have apparently demonstarted the ability to absorb oxygen into their blood through their stomac by swallowing it. What are some signs that your pleco is dying? How big of a tank do they need? Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. Good Luck. I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was ONE TOUGH FISH. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. To deal with any such situation, you should have the contact of a veterinarian in your new [], @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. Vicki, I think it was the CO2 as well. It was in a tank with Piranha and had scars on it, but after a while they left it alone. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. Just as important is what you put in the tank. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. 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). Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. I know that this thread was posted in 2003 but I just wanted to revive it as we had an accident with 2 of our pleco's today, a bristlenose and a dwarf clown pleco. What does it mean when a pleco fish dies overnight? Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more! You shouldnt count the fish out completely just yet, though. I have heard of RTC living out of water for 45 mins!!! Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. He is breathing, but he isn't moving. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. Acclimation is floating the bag and slowly adding tank water to the bag to adjust the fish to your tank water. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. What kind of pleco is he? 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. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Im experienced in the fishkeeping hobby for many years. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. My Albino catfish does this all the time. Does he look as tough he's thin or sick? The way your one is laying is a bit worrisome. When my pleco went nuts, the pH had dropped to 6.8 and the drop checker was very yellow. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? If the chain is broken, this creates dangerous circumstances. 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. Threw him in the tank anyway and it survived. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. This post may contain affiliate links. This way, you can manage them and check for potential diseases. Juts curious - as I was doing a water change today and about 10 minutes into it I noted my true Albino Bristlenose Ancistrus wedged in between my rock wall - and my overflow box at the top of the tank. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. Abdominal swelling typically means that the fish has some type of internal infection. Paleness is certainly a distress symptom. 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.
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