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3. Did you just get him? Low immune system. Good Luck. You are using an out of date browser. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. 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. Try touching the fish and see if it reacts. A fish that doesnt react to being touched is probably dead. Unfortunately, catching him would be all but impossible. You see, plecos are nocturnal fish that like to hide and rest during the day. Fix issues with the water quality and give the fish antibacterial treatments. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. Its possible that your pleco is feeling threatened by the filter, so its hiding behind it to feel safer. 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. Of course, its often human error that causes plecos to die in fish tanks. Your pleco needs immediate care in both cases. 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. Just a thought Sayuz. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. They should be living for a very long time under your care. It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. Start looking closely at the water parameters so that you can keep the fish safe. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. In general these catfish aren't very demanding when it comes to space requirements since they share bottom levels of tanks or just rest on large plants and, as mentioned above, adult specimens grow to 13 cm in length (approximately 5 inches), moreover females grow smaller than males. These fish simply arent active during the day. Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. Then it has cloudy eyes. This disease is not contagious but should be treated or death will follow. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. The Pleco is Bloated. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank. certain species have apparently demonstarted the ability to absorb oxygen into their blood through their stomac by swallowing it. You may see this in plecos that don't get enough to eat. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. Most Plecos are nocturnal and we don't get to see them eat. Sick goldfish not moving but breathing/alive. Its also possible that nothing is wrong at all. Barely breathing! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Does this mean that something happened during the night? Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. 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. 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. If there are no good bacteria, harmful levels of ammonia can build up quickly as plecos produce a lot of waste. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. FishForums.net is one of the internet's oldest and premier Tropical Fish and Aquarium forums! 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? As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. If your plecos dont seem to be doing so well, then youre probably disheartened. Feed your pleco a varied diet, that meets the species needs. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? . So I sighed, and accepted I was going to lose him. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, other reasons why a pleco might start floating. For example, a temperature fluctuation could have killed the fish. Highly recommend algae wafers. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. Tap water contains chlorine and chlorimine that are toxic to fish. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. Increasing the temperature in the sick fishs tank is another way to combat the disease and aid recovery. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. One day, I was excited to see the male had trapped the female in a cave, so I was expecting some babies.However, the next morning I waked up noticing the fish death in the cave. 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. I wouldn't worry too much about yours! Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. If the fish is unable to move, you'll need to be its gills for a while. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Monitor your fishs feeding to ensure he is eating. What are some signs that your pleco is dying? 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. If you can learn how to care for these fish properly, then they shouldnt be dying fast. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. My fish is alive and moving, but isnt breathing? Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. What should I do?! Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. His very favorite food though is fresh raw zucchini. JavaScript is disabled. Like fin rot, Ich may appear due to poor tank conditions. Can be seen here, incuding specific details and how-to's on some of my special features. 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. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. It can be caused by elevated ammonia levels in the tank or an injury that resulted in a bacterial infection. The way your one is laying is a bit worrisome. Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. Quite often bottom dwellers do just sit and not move. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, and this likely made you confident enough to purchase some even as a beginner. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). Paleness is certainly a distress symptom. 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. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, and even small amounts of vegetables can help your fish be more healthy. Plecos are freshwater fish that need to live in water that is between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius (72-82F). High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. (By Species), Breeding Pleco Catfish Guide With Pictures, Cory Catfish And Plecos Tank Mate guide, Do plecos bury themselves? He's doing good now. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. There are various products that might treat it but as for your best option on products I don't know. When a pleco is stressed, it lowers its immunity and increases the risk of fast death. If your pleco's fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fish's body. Just like any other fish, a pleco needs its own specified diet. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. Fish laying on its side, mouth open. Feeding your fish de-shelled peas or other foods high in fiber can help decrease the swelling. The most common cause of this is poor water conditions. Recently, I watched. When using tap water you need to use tap water conditioner. This is the main reason why we cycle aquarium tanks. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Fin rot is a common infection among aquarium fish. JavaScript is disabled. If your pleco has a sunken belly, its starving due to malnutrition. 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. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. Theres nothing wrong with a pleco than has a rounded belly (its in fact healthy) but if it looks bloated, this is bad. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. Sometimes plecos that can't breathe well will float near the surface of the water. What kind of pleco is he? Home > Plecos > Care > 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It]. My betta is laying at the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? What are you feeding this little guy? If you catch some of the signs early enough, then itll be possible to turn everything around. 5 Tips for moving into your new Home with pets, [] injured while moving. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. The main pressure on the regulator has been dropping so I raised the main pressure in the regulator and then increased the bubble flow. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. I love my animals. He also has a white spot on his eye. A pleco cant survive off of algae and needs its own diet, apart from what you feed its tank mates. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. Tank of the Month, 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. Water quality problems will sometimes cause plecos to develop a condition known as cloudy eye. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. Just keep an eye on him. Fish that are acclimated in this fashion become comfortable in new tanks faster. It's just another misleading thing that pet stores advertise. Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. Can I do something to help? Diseases and Treatment. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. Lastly, before or during spawning, plecos can breathe more rapidly since this is energy-consuming. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. Water parameters good? Continue reading to learn about reasons why plecos might stop moving. Did you add any new fish recently, particularly any wild caught or F1s? Now he's a happy camper. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! It is a disease that causes fluid build-up in the eye socket, resulting in the eyes protruding out of the socket. When my pleco sleeps on his back, it is usually under a wood or in a dark spot, where he wont be bothered. 0. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. ive heard a story of one spending a few hours on the carpet under a tank (jumper).. when he was found his skin was all dry and his owner thought he was dead but when he went to pick him up he moved.. so after a few weeks in a recovery tank he was back to normal During our latest move, Wataugachicken and I could'nt dislodge one of the bristle nose plecs from our largest chunk of driftwood. My guppy is laying on its side at the bottom of the tank and still moving. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. This can be caused by not thoroughly cycling the tank before adding new fish. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. Small anekdote: I have a tank of zebra plecos (L46) (the fish that costs $200+ a piece). Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. LL, yes I just moved, but the pleco has been in this water for almost a month. 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. How can I make my plecostomus more active? It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. This can happen to one eye or both. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. It was not just one of my plecos but several. Quarantining fish is one of the most forgotten things in the hobby. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. Weve touched a little on improving the tank setup for your pleco catfish. Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. 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 best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. There might not be anything wrong at all. Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. 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 said that probably it was aged quite a lot. You must log in or register to reply here. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. 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. Fish tank Pet fish Pet Animals and Pets. The Complete Answer, Can Plecos And Shrimp Live Together? Most of them can be caused by poor water conditions in the tank. 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. 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. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. It is usually an injury if it only occurs in one eye. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. He (or she) is normally pretty active, being a good vacuum cleaner for the tank. It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. 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. Is it dying? A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. I thought the pH controller was set okay so I wasn't too worried. 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. In addition, you will want to quarantine the sick fish, as it is contagious and will spread quickly. Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Change the Tank Water Frequently. Check to see if anything is causing the fish stress. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. He might be guarding eggs or trying to entice a female to breed with him. Molly lying on side on bottom of tank, moving very little. Sorry your pleco is ill. every day I feed the fish in my school aquarium and I've notice the pleco doesn't ever move. (+ 11 Ways To Stop Your Pleco From Eating Plants), Breeding Bristlenose Plecos (With Pictures), Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. Ouwch. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. We finished breaking down our multiple tanks, loaded the moving truck, drove it for three hours, spent two more hours waiting for the moving helpers, got the truck unloaded, started setting up the tanks, put the decor back in, added the fish. and the bristle nose swam out of the wood when we put in algae wafers. A long, long, long time ago when I was young my friends and I always had tanks. Plecos are often wrongfully accused of eating and destroying plants. If your pleco is stressed, it may exhibit some of the following behaviors: Hiding is a natural defensive response for many fish. Of course, some of the fish might simply have genetic issues. This could happen to any fish owner, so it is essential to understand the causes of these symptoms and how to treat them. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. This happened all of a sudden. Jun 21, 2005 #1 I have about a 3" pleco in a 10 gallon tank. 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. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Silly fish. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. Generally he is pretty active but sometime he just stay on one stop and don't move at all, even for like 1-2 days. 3. An oxygen deficit can be caused by a nitrite/ammonia spike, high temperatures, or a broken filter. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. Feb 14, 2004. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. You should be changing 15% of the water on a weekly basis. Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. It is an extreme problem with oxygen to have, but it can occur if you don't do a good job maintaining the tank. You also have to keep in mind that theyre nocturnal. It is the most common disease in tropical fish, like plecos, and is likely caused by poor water conditions. Infections can be treated by isolating the sick fish and consulting your vet to determine the proper treatment. Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? you read and agreed to the. Fish are fascinating creatures, and although some are easy to take care of, that doesnt eliminate the possibility of them developing a sickness. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. Its wise to isolate the fish during the treatment process by setting up a quarantine tank. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. Injury and stress can also cause cloudy eye issues. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. White spots on the body can be seen as signs of ich. I have seen this behavior once before and today, its happening again. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. Definitely looks underweight. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. 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. Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". In most cases, it is poisoning by ammonia, nitrite, or other nitrogen. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. 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. I hope he recovered. I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention, The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. you read and agreed to the. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. Fish laying on the bottom of the tank and breathing deeply require action as soon as possible. You might not be feeding them enough either. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? Are its gills moving or does it appear to be motionless? If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. If all he is getting is algae (either fresh from the tank or wafer form) he may not be feeling very good. You might need to do a better job of doing regular water changes. Fish can recover from this but most will die. I read that they loved blanched vegetables, so I have given them a cucumber slice the last three nights for about an hour and then took it out. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. Why is my pleco hiding behind the filter? You shouldnt count the fish out completely just yet, though. Just keep an eye on him. 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. Just laying on the bottom. 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. Although some plecos do like to eat algae, not all of them do. Sadly, my pleco died that night.