Infections can be treated by isolating the sick fish and consulting your vet to determine the proper treatment. Injury and stress can also cause cloudy eye issues. I quickly put in an airstone and within 5 minutes they were back to normal. If not he likely is moving when you are not around, most pleco are very shy (without a ton of hiding places and a shyer personality can make the pleco even more reclusive), some species are worse for being out and about than others. 2 - Rotting Fins. I have seen bottom dwelling loaches just get very pale and colorless when there is too much CO2 in the water. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. What kind of disease? Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. Mine is also out at night. Problems can occur when caring for plecos. Check out the FishForums.net Monthly 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? If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. However, a stressed pleco catfish can be recognized by a few things: A stressed pleco is most likely the result of an insufficient tank setup, bad water quality and or conflicts with other fish or plecos. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. Water parameters good? It was a bristlenose pleco. 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. An air pump is optional, but recommended to prevent your pleco from swimming up to the surface to gulp air. While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. Also, theyre nocturnal fish that rest during the day. Breeding bristlenose plecos is certainly an exciting thing to do. Its very plausible that plecos can die due to not being fed properly. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Today, I found him lying on his back on the floor of the tank but he is still alive. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! A healthy probably pregnant bristlenose pleco female. I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. A lot of pleco types also benefit from driftwood in their tank. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. Popeye can be caused by a few things. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. In addition, there are specific treatments you can purchase to help your fish suffering from diseases like rotting fins and ich. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. T. Swearingen, http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=126, S.Barbatus & Black C. Schultzei breeding tank. "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. When my pleco sleeps on his back, it is usually under a wood or in a dark spot, where he wont be bothered. Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. The best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. Take any remaining fish out of the water and keep them somewhere safe. 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. Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. you read and agreed to the. All Rights Reserved. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. When one of us would pack it in for a while we would pass this one pleco to another person. 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. Acclimation is floating the bag and slowly adding tank water to the bag to adjust the fish to your tank water. Perhaps the heater stopped working and the water temperature dipped far too low. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. The water might be dirty or the parameters could be way off of what they should be. Youll want to fix issues with the oxygen levels being too low. If your plecos dont seem to be doing so well, then youre probably disheartened. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the. His very favorite food though is fresh raw zucchini. Jun 21, 2005 #1 I have about a 3" pleco in a 10 gallon tank. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. Moving forward, it should be easier to look out for problems with the fish. But the water parameters are checking out okay. If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. As long as nothing appears to be wrong with the fish, its not necessary to worry. I think you can see him in my signature pic. Most Plecos are nocturnal and we don't get to see them eat. How big of a tank do they need? 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. There are some cases where the pleco might have been injured by another pet in the tank, but most of the time they will recover on their own. Youll also need to fix issues with water quality in the tank while solving stress problems. Sometimes fish will get like this when theyre sick. If the fish is hiding among the plants or in a cave and not moving, thats perfectly normal. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. My Pleco sits underneath the rock in my mini cave. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. WHats wrong? Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. They will eat some algae but they need more than that to stay healthy. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. Fish tank Pet fish Pet Animals and Pets. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Pleco fish are amazing animals and very interesting for aquarists. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Unlike cory catfish, which breathe air and for whom its normal to gulp air, plecos dont normally do this. Youve learned so much about signs that your plecos are dying. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. 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. If you catch some of the signs early enough, then itll be possible to turn everything around. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. 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. If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. If the chain is broken, this creates dangerous circumstances. If they are desperate enough, they will turn upside down in their search for food at the surface. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, other reasons why a pleco might start floating. Filtration is crucial to keep your water parameters optimal, as pleco catfish are big polluters. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. What are you feeding this little guy? Home > Plecos > Care > 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It]. Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. Touch the fish and see if you can get it to spring up. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. Hello, I have this pleco for like 6 months. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. Poor nutrition might cause loss of color as well. Depending on the species, feed a varied diet of both vegetables and protein-rich foods that sink to the bottom. If your pleco is stressed, it may exhibit some of the following behaviors: Hiding is a natural defensive response for many fish. If you have a nitrite spike in your aquarium, it will make the fishes red blood cells unable to carry oxygen, leading to it suffocating. Isolating the fish and fixing the problems source is imperative to save your pleco. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. Also, does he have any places to hide? Its a sign that something is wrong, and you might need to make some changes. You called it a he is it actually male? White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Highly recommend algae wafers. He was struggling really hard, and ended up tipping upside-down, fighting his way up to the surface, and all kinds of things. My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Nighttime is when these fish can take their time exploring their tank to find food, which they often do by keeping their skin touching the substrate (or other objects in the tank). The signs above have a lot of things in common. They can also take advantage of other opportunities that come with darkness, like avoiding predators. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. Lastly, before or during spawning, plecos can breathe more rapidly since this is energy-consuming. JavaScript is disabled. Youll want to scoop the fish out of the tank and dispose of it. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. This can be caused by many things, such as poor water conditions, stress, or poor nutrition. If all he is getting is algae (either fresh from the tank or wafer form) he may not be feeling very good. This will make you assume that its dead. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. ), -Research nutrition based on specific pleco species, fin edges turn black or brown and look frayed, have white dots (another possible symptom of ich). Pleco catfish don't move . Unlike ich or fin rot, there are no medicinal treatments for cloudy eyes, as the problem will solve itself when the cause has been determined and fixed (water conditions, tank aggression, etc.). Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? That caused me to look at all of the fish, and I saw that many were very pale. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. Start looking closely at the water parameters so that you can keep the fish safe. Sometimes plecos that can't breathe well will float near the surface of the water. If there is no reaction, then the fish is truly dead. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! They love to eat, and you should try to feed them as much as you can. Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). A filter is a must. He is still alive. Its also possible that nothing is wrong at all. 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. he sound fine, try touching himand he will probably swim away. Infections can be remedied by giving the fish medications. Click here. When a pleco is stressed, it lowers its immunity and increases the risk of fast death. Change the Tank Water Frequently. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. I have had him in this tank and the fish with him for over a year. This is constant. You shouldnt count the fish out completely just yet, though. Do your best to determine what is wrong with the fish. This gave me false readings that my water had hardly any co2 in it. It can take a few days for him to convinced one to lay eggs for him then he sits in the cave and fans them. Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. Especially if they are in the breeding season. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. This means that this fish only comes out a. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! I have another one and don't want to lose both. In addition, you will want to quarantine the sick fish, as it is contagious and will spread quickly. API Liquid Super Ich Cure is another product you can purchase to treat ich. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. Poor conditions in the tank can contribute to infections. Mine in the day is under a log and will only come out if there is food. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. 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. Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. For example, a temperature fluctuation could have killed the fish. Vampire plecos need to be fed meaty foods such as shrimp and snails. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. Use a fish net or scoop to touch the fish gently to test whether its alive or not. Rapid temperature changes, irregular feeding schedules, and poor water conditions also contribute to stress in fish. Its possible that your pleco is feeling threatened by the filter, so its hiding behind it to feel safer. 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. 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. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. Any animal needs some time to get used to a new home and small lizards are often prey for bigger things. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The best way to prevent your Pleco from dying is to feed them a variety of food and provide at least 10 gallons of water for them every day. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. I have heard of RTC living out of water for 45 mins!!! Having more females than males also helps. Help!! How long have you had the tank? He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. Try touching the fish and see if it reacts. If your pleco is gulping at the surface, it doesnt have enough oxygen and is suffocating. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! Diseases and Treatment. They are seriously chill dudes lol. Small anekdote: I have a tank of zebra plecos (L46) (the fish that costs $200+ a piece). This disease is called ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and can be fatal if not treated. Learn more. 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. 5 Tips for moving into your new Home with pets, [] injured while moving. 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 your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was ONE TOUGH FISH. My husband's pleco often does this. If possible it would be advisable to move the pleco to a nursing tank away from other fish. If there are elevated levels of chemicals, perform small water changes for a couple of days to lower the concentration. However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. Goldfish Laying on his side, breathing ever 15-30 secs. Full Tank Mate Guide, Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size 101: Everything You Need To Know, Pleco Price: How Much Do Pleco Cost? Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Fixing constipation issues will be easy. Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. whats wrong? Not real sure though since don't feel like doing an experiment. Although water conditions are the primary cause of these symptoms, low water temperature can also be a cause. Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. What should I do?! To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. 0. Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. They will hide, or just freeze like a rock if they think they are in danger or are freaking out. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. 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. My betta is laying at the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily. The Complete Answer, Can Plecos And Shrimp Live Together? We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. Hes in a seperate bowl. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. We need the oxygen to flow and the current from a filter or movement of . Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. Adding fish without acclimating them causes shock. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! Supply food for the other fish during the day. If the fish is unable to move, you'll need to be its gills for a while. It was not just one of my plecos but several. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. You might need to do a better job of doing regular water changes. What does it mean when a pleco fish dies overnight? Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. You also have to keep in mind that theyre nocturnal. Its normal for these fish to hide and be very wary of venturing out. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. 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. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. To revive a dying pleco, perform a big water change and make sure the water parameters are optimal. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. There are common signs and symptoms among fish diseases that show your fish is battling more than just a common sickness. Take action by doing water changes and adding an air pump. For a limited time, download my pleco catfish ebook below on how to care for these beautiful animals. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). This post may contain affiliate links. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Plecos can stay in the same place for long periods of time, or move and go back without you knowing it. Most of these signs of death are preventable by monitoring the water conditions and performing weekly water changes. Therefore, it is important to notice your fishs behaviors when they become sick. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. I would be more concerned if I touched him and he didn't swim away. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. Thanks, Tex Gal. Sadly, my pleco died that night. i know hes alive because if i try and move him he will swim away, What do i do? A swollen belly with pleco catfish is caused by constipation or even worse, dropsy. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. 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. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). Are there females in the tank with him? So I just went to put food in the fish tank. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. There are even plecos that are considered to be carnivorous. Nitrite is the most dangerous, and should always be at 0 ppm. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. Unfortunately, catching him would be all but impossible. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Knowing what signs to look out for might allow you to turn things around before its too late. Regular water changes are an important part of fish tank maintenance. Both stress and poor water quality can make it more likely that the fish will get infected. Fish laying on its side, mouth open. My Pleco did that for a while too. Always supply food in the presence of light to the baby fish. Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? There might not be anything wrong at all. Sometimes I will catch him moving about. As I said, the other fish are showing no signs of stress. 2 comments. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. One time a buddy was cleaning his tank and took all the fish out and put them in a bucket. 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. 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. This could happen to any fish owner, so it is essential to understand the causes of these symptoms and how to treat them. Fish can recover from this but most will die. This parasitic infection causes white spots to appear all over the fish. Both eyes will appear to protrude if there is an infection present. Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. You might even be making the mistake of thinking that plecos can subsist entirely on algae in the tank. A swollen belly isnt a good sign.
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