Sick Clown Pleco

[Chenell]

My Clown Pleco seems to be sick. I noticed today that his eyes are extremely dialated. They do not look like what they usually do... there is usually only a little bit of black in his pie shaped eyes. I also cleaned the tank a little bit ago and he didn't move around like he usually does. He has been in the same spot now for 45 minutes. Otherwise, he looks completely normal.

Does anyone have any ideas? All the other fish seem healthy, except for my swordtail who is having his tail munched on by one of the other fish.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Chenell

[ewok]

tank water parameters?

have you done any waterchanges recently?

plecos are tuf to diagnose. i would suggest you also try posting this question in the www.planetcatfish.com forum. they are dedicated strictly to bottom dwellers and might be a good resource in this case.

http://www.forum.planetcatfish.com/viewforum.php?f=5 <<< is the link you'll need

[Chenell]

Tank specs:

10 gal w/ power filter no live plants.

Fish: 1 dwarf gourami, 2 diamond tetras, 1 swordtail, 2 cory cats, 1 clown pleco.

Change 2 gals of water weekly w/ gravel vaccum.

The tank has been up and running for probably over a year. I lost a betta and he killed all but one fish so I had to start over.

Water temp: 78 degrees
pH: 6.8 - 7.0
GH: 2
KH: 10
Ammonia: less than .5
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0


I will also try posting to the other message board, thanks.

[ewok]

the only thing that jumps out at me is you probably need to do more water changes. your ammonia is alright for now, but with that tankload i imagine it rises pretty quick. it's definately cycling and should be treated as such.

you might want to add a teaspoon of salt for the nitrites that will be around.

so this pleco is a newer purchase?

are/were its eyes "sunken"?

are you doing anything special to feed it?

[Chenell]

No, I've had him for quite some time now. I think he is dead but I am not sure. This morning he looked dead, I scooped him out of the tank and put him in a bag to freeze him so maybe I could bring him to the store I got him at and see if they could tell anything wrong with him. While he was in the bag he started twitching a bit, so I put him back in the tank. He looked pretty dead... but all of a sudden he started breathing again after like 5 minutes.. it was wierd.

I have been feeding him algae pellets weekly, but the other fish seem to get to them before he does. He did look a bit thin. I hope he didn't starve to death.. there was a bit of algae growing in the tank.

Anyway, I am at work now and can't check on him, I am pretty sure he is probably dead by now. It's just a bummer cause he cost me $10... by far the most expensive fish I've ever bought.

Thanks for your help.. even though it was a bit too late to save my clown plecto.

Chenell

[Napoli]

I read on planetcatfish.com that clown plecos are wood eaters, and need driftwood in the tank as a foodsource.

I have one, and ever since I added wood to my tank two weeks ago, he's been much happier. He also munches on the shrimp pellets I feed to my clown loaches, which is weird becaue he's supposed to be vegetarian, no?

[zin]

My clown pleco is extremly shy and always has been, no agressive fish with him, and lots of wood, if im far away from the tank he will come out but as soon as i get close he runs and hides.

my common pleco does the same thing ><

[Chenell]

Oh, I didn't know he needed wood. The guys at the store I got him at didn't tell me that. :(

Live & learn I guess.