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. As you can tell, its important to treat things as soon as you can. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. The main pressure on the regulator has been dropping so I raised the main pressure in the regulator and then increased the bubble flow. He also has a white spot on his eye. The water might be dirty or the parameters could be way off of what they should be. 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. There is a man that works at Petco who actually knows what he is doing, and when my friend asked about getting a common pleco for her 75g, he said he only recommends them in a 150 gallon tank or more to fully thrive. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. A pleco might choose to remain very still and stay in the same spot all day. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . Click here. 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.). Just when we think we've lost him, he wriggles away to explore something new. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. It is an extreme problem with oxygen to have, but it can occur if you don't do a good job maintaining the tank. Typically, loss of color is associated with poor tank conditions. Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. Bloating isn't that difficult to identify. Some even buy them specifically to try to keep the fish tank clean. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? We need the oxygen to flow and the current from a filter or movement of . They will eat some algae but they need more than that to stay healthy. An air pump is optional, but recommended to prevent your pleco from swimming up to the surface to gulp air. Add an airstone if your filter doesnt create enough surface movement. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You called it a he is it actually male? You must log in or register to reply here. You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. Hello, I have this pleco for like 6 months. Please help! Plecos turn white for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: poor nutrition, disease, stress, or inadequate tank conditions. Of course, itll be prudent to try to touch the fish to see if it moves. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. If your temperature and pH are out of this range, you need to take steps to remedy the situation. Use a fish net or scoop to touch the fish gently to test whether its alive or not. Abdominal swelling typically means that the fish has some type of internal infection. You see, plecos are nocturnal fish that like to hide and rest during the day. Infections can be remedied by giving the fish medications. Check to see if anything is causing the fish stress. Both stress and poor water quality can make it more likely that the fish will get infected. We found him on the carpet under his bed and it looked pretty dead. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. My Pleco did that for a while too. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. He was struggling really hard, and ended up tipping upside-down, fighting his way up to the surface, and all kinds of things. Keep reading to know more. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. There has to be something wrong. Perhaps it seems lethargic and it might even be laying on its side. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. Check out the FishForums.net Monthly Your pleco needs immediate care in both cases. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. Isolating the fish and fixing the problems source is imperative to save your pleco. Just laying on the bottom. Clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank with a gravel vacuum, and make sure any decorations are clean as well. This typically isnt the case, and some plecos dont even eat algae. Now he's a happy camper. 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. In some cases, it might even be as extreme as males killing each other. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? Water parameters are good. Goldfish Laying on his side, breathing ever 15-30 secs. Htels & Rsidences de tourisme; tablissements recevant du public; Habitats individuels & collectifs; Amnagements extrieurs; Design, Mobilier & Tapisseries 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. Checking and monitoring the levels, temperature and pH will ensure the tank has the proper conditions for your pleco. Ensure you follow the package instructions to ensure proper dosing for your fish. This disease is called ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and can be fatal if not treated. 7 - Dropsy I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Fish can only tolerate 5% water changes every couple of hours, so make sure that you leave enough time between water changes so that your fish does not go into shock. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more! 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. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. Surprisingly, common plecos aren't meant for most home aquariums. Is there a way to tell if a pleco fish is about to die? I think you can see him in my signature pic. Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. Scraping off small pieces and the biofilm growing on them is beneficial for their digestive system. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. 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. I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. My husband's pleco often does this. Full Tank Mate Guide, Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size 101: Everything You Need To Know, Pleco Price: How Much Do Pleco Cost? I think that it is nothing to worry about. So I just went to put food in the fish tank. Youve learned so much about signs that your plecos are dying. Make sure to find the cause so that you can add antibiotics if needed. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. This can make it very tough for the fish to swim around normally. Feed your pleco a varied diet, that meets the species needs. Wouldn't the fish survive for at least a few days even if it was suffering from a disease? It might help you to figure out how to help the fish by doing some troubleshooting. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. This is the main reason why we cycle aquarium tanks. Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. A pleco cant survive off of algae and needs its own diet, apart from what you feed its tank mates. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. 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. Water quality problems will sometimes cause plecos to develop a condition known as cloudy eye. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. Tap water contains chlorine and chlorimine that are toxic to fish. My fish is alive and moving, but isnt breathing? He's doing good now. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. he sound fine, try touching himand he will probably swim away. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. We are a family friendly community with an incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. It's a common pleco and it' Why is my betta sitting by the heater not moving. Feb 14, 2004. Mine doesn't get active til well after 10pm at night. There are various products that might treat it but as for your best option on products I don't know. I had a pleco who lived out of water for 12 mins! It's good to get confirmation as to what happened. Today, I found him lying on his back on the floor of the tank but he is still alive. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not movi By entering this site you declare Since plecos dont have scales, it can be hard to know whether its dropsy or not. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. Plecos do not have scales and they tend to rot really fast when they die, so as was mentioned above, you. If you offer them a place where they can feel safe, such as a dark spot under an ornamental plant, they will often come out to visit with you. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! 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. Later in this guide, well go over the exact symptoms of dropsy. Did you add any new fish recently, particularly any wild caught or F1s? Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. Pleco catfish don't move a lot he started they're nocturnal. They love to eat, and you should try to feed them as much as you can. He is starting to show his age but. Many people mistakenly think that plecos dont need to be fed. They take a full breath, in and out, about 6 times a second. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. A fish that doesnt react to being touched is probably dead. Take any remaining fish out of the water and keep them somewhere safe. Baby plecos have been known to die when the water temperature fluctuates too much. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. Ich is a condition that involves the fish being infected by parasites. Vote. Most Plecos are nocturnal and we don't get to see them eat. Just as important is what you put in the tank. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. He said that probably it was aged quite a lot. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! A pleco dying is often the result of bad information and lack of knowhow about the species. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. Is the fish dead or is it really sick? Its a quite common sight: a pleco laying on its back. If you want to know everything about setting up a pleco tank, you can read our full guide on it. This is constant. If the chain is broken, this creates dangerous circumstances. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. Definitely looks underweight. However, many times, the death of a plecostomus is avoidable by some simple changes in their care. My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. 3. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. Adding an oxygen source also helps. Lastly, before or during spawning, plecos can breathe more rapidly since this is energy-consuming. You might need to address water quality issues. I wouldn't worry too much about yours! Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Are you watching him 24/7? The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. What does it mean when a pleco fish dies overnight? Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. Increasing the temperature in the sick fishs tank is another way to combat the disease and aid recovery. 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It], Do Plecos Eat Snails? I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. There are actually many signs that show you that plecos are in rough shape. It was not just one of my plecos but several. How is your pleco doing Vicki? Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. There might not be anything wrong at all. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! When my pleco sleeps on his back, it is usually under a wood or in a dark spot, where he wont be bothered. It could be that the pleco is just old. This guy lasted about 10 years. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. I think it is just tired or not used to your tank try turning the lights off. You may see this in plecos that don't get enough to eat. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. I thought the pH controller was set okay so I wasn't too worried. It very well might be dead if it doesnt appear to be moving at all. Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. 3. If you get no response, the fish is surely dead. The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. The way your one is laying is a bit worrisome. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypostomus_plecostomus, https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/plecostomus.html, Why Is My Goldfish Turning Black? If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Is it dying? Contests including the Tank of the Month, Supply food for the other fish during the day. Taking care of baby plecos can be challenging in some ways. I love my animals. You might not be feeding them enough either. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. Provide adequate space and decor (ornaments and positioning of objects) so there is no danger for your pleco. Did you just get him? 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. Although water conditions are the primary cause of these symptoms, low water temperature can also be a cause. If he's alive and swims away why are you worried? Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. 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. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. You want to do the best job that you can while caring for plecos. 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. If the oxygen levels get really low, plecos might stop moving. Malnutrition can also lead to constipation, especially when too much protein is fed. Help!! He just started acting crazy the last couple of days. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. If your fishs eyes appear to be bulging out of its head, it may be suffering from pop eye or exophthalmos. What should I do?! I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. I think that it is nothing to worry about. If it was dead youd know it, lol. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! The tank is now highly planted, and he's very fast. Problems can occur when caring for plecos. Remember to do regular tank maintenance. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. This means that this fish only comes out a. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. I had this fish gang for 2 years together now, with only minor Do your best to determine what is wrong with the fish. Hallo everyone, I have a question concerning my 4 year old 10.6 inch pleco. Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). This parasitic infection causes white spots to appear all over the fish. you read and agreed to the. When a pleco is stressed, it lowers its immunity and increases the risk of fast death. When you dont treat this disease, it can cause the fish to lose vision or even lose the eye. Very bad water conditions might even directly kill the fish. Abdominal swelling can be caused by many things including the following: stress, tank conditions, and constipation. The fish could have been on the verge of death for some time. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. 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. Its also important to clean the fish tank and do regular water changes to avoid throwing the water parameters off. Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Floating the fish for an hour or so will help it to get used to the water temperature of its new home. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. Pleco Not Moving but Breathing. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. Start looking closely at the water parameters so that you can keep the fish safe. (Possible Causes). Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. When using tap water you need to use tap water conditioner. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. he has been banging in to the top of the tank really hard. Fish are fascinating creatures, and although some are easy to take care of, that doesnt eliminate the possibility of them developing a sickness. Therefore, it is important to notice your fishs behaviors when they become sick. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Learn more. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. Your fish may be suffering from ich if their skin appears to have white dots that look like salt or sugar flakes. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. Its a sign that something is wrong, and you might need to make some changes. Ouwch. Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. Pleco rotting fins. Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. Just like any other fish, they need a certain environment to feel good. Plecos live in environments with temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Pleco catfish don't move . Fast forward to the next day. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. He (or she) is normally pretty active, being a good vacuum cleaner for the tank. Many plecos are omnivorous, meaning they need both plant-based foods and protein to thrive. 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. He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. If you discover one of your fish has popeye, check the water levels to determine if that is the cause. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? How long have you had the tank? Receive our FREE eBook by filling out the form below. If all he is getting is algae (either fresh from the tank or wafer form) he may not be feeling very good. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. Monitor your fishs feeding to ensure he is eating. 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. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. If they are desperate enough, they will turn upside down in their search for food at the surface. Regular water changes are an important part of fish tank maintenance. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). You are using an out of date browser. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Ensure that youre feeding the fish appropriately. Here are some tips on how you can notice a sick pleco thats possibly even dying. The best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. What kind of disease? I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. Make sure to take notice of this behavior, and to check your water parameters to know whether there might be a cause for this. If there are elevated levels of chemicals, perform small water changes for a couple of days to lower the concentration. 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. Good Luck. As I said, the other fish are showing no signs of stress. This can happen to one eye or both. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. Breeding bristlenose plecos is certainly an exciting thing to do. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. It might need a bit more time to get used to its new environment. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Always supply food in the presence of light to the baby fish. It can be caused by elevated ammonia levels in the tank or an injury that resulted in a bacterial infection. Also, does he have any places to hide? This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. Unfortunately, this is not true. JavaScript is disabled. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside.
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