You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. Its a quite common sight: a pleco laying on its back. He's doing good now. Your pleco needs immediate care in both cases. Make sure to ask your fish store whether they have quarantined the fish already. These fish enjoy hiding and they often stay in the same place at the bottom of the aquarium. 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. Just a thought Sayuz. When plecos are just getting used to a new environment, theyre going to be rather skittish. (By Species), Breeding Pleco Catfish Guide With Pictures, Cory Catfish And Plecos Tank Mate guide, Do plecos bury themselves? This can happen to one eye or both. I still don't know for sure what happened, but I'm going to blame the CO2. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. Fast forward to the next day. This post may contain affiliate links. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, other reasons why a pleco might start floating. 0. If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. Make sure to find the cause so that you can add antibiotics if needed. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. Just keep an eye on him. There are common signs and symptoms among fish diseases that show your fish is battling more than just a common sickness. It is usually an injury if it only occurs in one eye. The water might be dirty or the parameters could be way off of what they should be. You shouldnt count the fish out completely just yet, though. If you can learn how to care for these fish properly, then they shouldnt be dying fast. Most of these signs of death are preventable by monitoring the water conditions and performing weekly water changes. My Albino catfish does this all the time. Fish laying on the bottom of the tank and breathing deeply require action as soon as possible. If your plecos seem to be losing color rapidly, then its a sign that theyre dying or getting very sick. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. Regular water changes are an important part of fish tank maintenance. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. Baby plecos have been known to die when the water temperature fluctuates too much. The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. I came over to his house about 4 hours later and noticed the plec was missing. They do generaly but if it is stunted then I would say I lived to its maximum potential given the circumstances. 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. 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. What are some signs that your pleco is dying? This can be caused by many things, such as poor water conditions, stress, or poor nutrition. 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? Then it has cloudy eyes. This happened all of a sudden. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. 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. We have this ugly plastic reef wall thing that I want to take out that he used to hide in and we checked if he was alive and he moved to his current spot. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms, the causes, and treatment options for your pleco. A filter is a must. Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. 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. Even the pleco was quite all right till yesterday. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Click here. 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. Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was ONE TOUGH FISH. you read and agreed to the. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. I have another one and don't want to lose both. Fin rot is one of the most preventable illnesses, as the main contributor to this disease is poor water conditions. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. The signs above have a lot of things in common. Just when we think we've lost him, he wriggles away to explore something new. If your pleco has a cloudy eye but acts normal, it will probably go away by itself. Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. Tank of the Month, High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. There has to be something wrong. I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. If you notice your pleco is breathing rapidly or gulping at the surface, its most likely because of an oxygen deficit. Also, theyre nocturnal fish that rest during the day. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. 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. Many plecos are omnivorous, meaning they need both plant-based foods and protein to thrive. Isolating the fish and fixing the problems source is imperative to save your pleco. Use a fish net or scoop to touch the fish gently to test whether its alive or not. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank. If you want fish that are livelier during the day, youd be better off looking for a different type of fish. I dont know what to do, i know that he is still alive. Highly recommend algae wafers. Its very plausible that plecos can die due to not being fed properly. Checking your tanks levels and temperatures will help you determine if the tanks conditions are unsafe for your pleco. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. Provide adequate space and decor (ornaments and positioning of objects) so there is no danger for your pleco. Aren't the nitrates a tad on the high side? Another result of starvation might be aggression, or your pleco sucking on the slime coat of fish like we sometimes see with goldfish. Maracyn Two is a product that you can purchase to treat fin rot. If your pleco is losing its color and slowly turning white, this might be an indication that it's either sick or dying. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. 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. 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. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH? 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. Unfortunately, this is not true. You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. 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. Quite often bottom dwellers do just sit and not move. Are there females in the tank with him? Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. Touch the fish and see if you can get it to spring up. 3. Just like any other fish, a pleco needs its own specified diet. The fish could have been on the verge of death for some time. Not real sure though since don't feel like doing an experiment. Most of the day, he is there. Im not sure if somethings wrong or not. You called it a he is it actually male? 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. Common pleco not moving after tank flush! So I sighed, and accepted I was going to lose him. This can make it very tough for the fish to swim around normally. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. These fish simply arent active during the day. Any animal needs some time to get used to a new home and small lizards are often prey for bigger things. If the water condition and bacterial infections caused the situation, then youll need to fix those problems. White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. My fish is breathing slowly and is laying at the bottom of his tank on his side. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. 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. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Checking and monitoring the levels, temperature and pH will ensure the tank has the proper conditions for your pleco. I did my weekly 50% water change with my regular EI dosing which didn't bother him at all. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. Its a sign that something is wrong, and you might need to make some changes. Check out the FishForums.net Monthly Full Tank Mate Guide, Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size 101: Everything You Need To Know, Pleco Price: How Much Do Pleco Cost? You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. Plecos are notoriously difficult to remove from a tank, its not uncommon for people to spend hours trying to find the perfect device or method to catch this fish. I have heard of RTC living out of water for 45 mins!!! I think that it is nothing to worry about. whats wrong? Many things can cause stress such as poor water conditions, overcrowded fish tanks, and incompatible tank mates. 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). Weve touched a little on improving the tank setup for your pleco catfish. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention, The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. The best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. Youve learned so much about signs that your plecos are dying. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. Its also imperative to regularly clean the fish tank. We need the oxygen to flow and the current from a filter or movement of . It very well might be dead if it doesnt appear to be moving at all. Do you notice your pleco has no clear eyes, but a white milk-like color? Many people mistakenly think that plecos dont need to be fed. Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. A fish that doesnt react to being touched is probably dead. How big of a tank do they need? Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. 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. When a pleco is not moving it can be a sign that the water has gotten too polluted or it is lacking food. Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. Often, its very hard to tell whether your pleco is sick or not. They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. 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. Researching before owning your pleco will give you the necessary information and guidance on preventing and treating these issues when they happen because not every fish owner is perfect. WHats wrong? When capturing the fish, be sure not to grab the tail fin because this could damage it. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. Therefore, it is important to notice your fishs behaviors when they become sick. Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. JavaScript is disabled. A male with eggs/ babies may stay in the cave for several weeks without eating. If the fish is unable to move, you'll need to be its gills for a while. Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. Plecos are strong swimmers, so it may be necessary to have two people present in order to remove them quickly. JavaScript is disabled. He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. Youll want to fix issues with the oxygen levels being too low. Clean the fish tank and regularly change the water to keep things clean. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. Having more females than males also helps. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the. Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. 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. When a pleco fish dies in the fish tank, itll stop moving and itll float. Unlike cory catfish, which breathe air and for whom its normal to gulp air, plecos dont normally do this. This parasitic infection causes white spots to appear all over the fish. Water parameters are good. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. Contests including the Tank of the Month, Its also possible that plecos will lose color when experiencing significant stress. Htels & Rsidences de tourisme; tablissements recevant du public; Habitats individuels & collectifs; Amnagements extrieurs; Design, Mobilier & Tapisseries If your pleco is stressed, it may exhibit some of the following behaviors: Hiding is a natural defensive response for many fish. One or both eyes might wind up being covered by a white or gray slime. Bristlenose plecos are unique fish with unique needs and preferences. Young animals are sensitive to too much protein. Theres nothing wrong with a pleco than has a rounded belly (its in fact healthy) but if it looks bloated, this is bad. I have seen bottom dwelling loaches just get very pale and colorless when there is too much CO2 in the water. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. No matter what we did, he would'nt come out. If your fishs eyes appear to be bulging out of its head, it may be suffering from pop eye or exophthalmos. Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. Just keep an eye on him. Its normal for these fish to hide and be very wary of venturing out. Silly fish. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? 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. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Injury and stress can also cause cloudy eye issues. Quarantining fish is one of the most forgotten things in the hobby. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. My Pleco sits underneath the rock in my mini cave. I thought the pH controller was set okay so I wasn't too worried. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. If your pleco is gulping at the surface or swimming up and down the tank to reach for oxygen, this is a severe problem. Sometimes fish will get like this when theyre sick. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. Ouwch. My fish isnt moving. Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. So I just went to put food in the fish tank. You might need to do a better job of doing regular water changes. A swollen belly isnt a good sign. It's good to get confirmation as to what happened. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. Although some plecos do like to eat algae, not all of them do. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. lol. Pleco rotting fins. 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. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. When my pleco sleeps on his back, it is usually under a wood or in a dark spot, where he wont be bothered. However, if you tap the fish tank, itll likely spring up and start swimming. Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. Also, does he have any places to hide? you read and agreed to the. Because of excitement, plecos can also breathe more rapidly after a water change. If your pleco is gulping at the surface, it doesnt have enough oxygen and is suffocating. Just as important is what you put in the tank. The cause of most of these symptoms stems from the water conditions. Then the water got cloudy and that is when they started breathing heavy. This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. If possible it would be advisable to move the pleco to a nursing tank away from other fish. The most common cause of this is poor water conditions. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. It is an extreme problem with oxygen to have, but it can occur if you don't do a good job maintaining the tank. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. A pleco dying is often the result of bad information and lack of knowhow about the species. He flaps his fins about once e Help, my guppy is lying on its back and isnt moving but is still alive. Are its gills moving or does it appear to be motionless? The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. This situation can be turned around if you act fast. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. Both stress and poor water quality can make it more likely that the fish will get infected. Fixing constipation issues will be easy. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Are you watching him 24/7? A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Although water conditions are the primary cause of these symptoms, low water temperature can also be a cause. Sadly, my pleco died that night. Youll also learn about why plecos might die so that you might be able to turn things around moving forward. 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. If you give them a variety of hiding spots, a variety of plants, and a variety of tank mates, your pleco will most likely be happier and more active. They take a full breath, in and out, about 6 times a second. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Today he seems very docile. Does he look as tough he's thin or sick? 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. Just like any other fish, they need a certain environment to feel good. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. If there are no good bacteria, harmful levels of ammonia can build up quickly as plecos produce a lot of waste. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. i know hes alive because if i try and move him he will swim away, What do i do? Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. Hes in a seperate bowl. Physical damage. A pleco cant survive off of algae and needs its own diet, apart from what you feed its tank mates. He is breathing, but he isn't moving. There are many things to consider, and you dont want to ignore signs that your fish are in trouble. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? Plecos turn white for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: poor nutrition, disease, stress, or inadequate tank conditions. Depending on the species, feed a varied diet of both vegetables and protein-rich foods that sink to the bottom. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. Foods that sink to the bottom where the plecos can eat them. One of our goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank and not moving. I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. Knowing what signs to look out for might allow you to turn things around before its too late. For example, a temperature fluctuation could have killed the fish. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? If the fish isnt moving or breathing, its possible that its dead. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. 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. You might not be feeding them enough either. This could happen to any fish owner, so it is essential to understand the causes of these symptoms and how to treat them. 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 Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. 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. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. 3. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. Learn more. Water quality problems will sometimes cause plecos to develop a condition known as cloudy eye. Thanks, Tex Gal. Vampire plecos need to be fed meaty foods such as shrimp and snails. Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. 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. Good luck. How is your pleco doing Vicki? It could be related to water quality, malnutrition, or even other things in the tank that are causing the fish stress. Remember to do regular tank maintenance. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. 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. Plecos live in environments with temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.