View Full Version : Is My Pleco sick
kevinfishboy
03-24-2004, 3:56 PM
Hey everyone my Pleco has been turning white in some places on his body and he has been doing this after I got him he still eats he will eat off the top and the bottom
my Pleco has been turning white
a more detailed description would help determin the problem if there is one. what kind of white is it? slimey, fuzzy, raised off the skin? some plecos can fade their patterning and make it look lighter with whitish blotches.
kevinfishboy
03-24-2004, 4:28 PM
I think that he is fading
JesseJ
03-24-2004, 5:04 PM
Try to post some pics so we can tell for certain if it is fading.
I've got 4 plecs right now. The 2 large ones (9"+) never change colour and the 2 small ones (4") change constantly. They go white in spots and then the colour leaks back until I walk by the tank and they change again.
OrionGirl
03-24-2004, 5:21 PM
Color changes can be from several things. Short term changes are often a stress reaction--poor water quality, new setup, other fish harrassing it, and being startled are all common causes. The fish will 'jump' into a different color, then return to normal in few minutes.
Some fish change color to adapt to their surroundings. These are usually slower changes--over the course of a couple days. I had a fish that when introduced was marbled brown and tan. 3 days later he'd vanished completely--couldn't find the fish, didn't see any water problems like he'd died. Shrugged it off. About 6 months later I was moving fish from the tank, and saw something dark scoot off some dark wood--and there the bugger was. He'd turned the exact shade of the wood, and blended in perfectly.
For a newly introduced fish, without any signs of damage, that's eating well, I'd figure it was just still getting used to the new setup, and give him a few days to settle in.
RioXingu
03-30-2004, 5:01 AM
Plecos can change color to some extent to match their surroundings.
Plecos turning white is usually a sign of their impending demise.
Bill in WI
jezebel32
07-23-2005, 5:43 PM
how cheerful my new pleco is turning patchy white but i do have very fine white sand mixed with gravel in my tank and thought he may just be changing colour to match the tank. i am going to phone the pet shop for advice but thought id do some research as his plec friend died yesterday both were only bought on wednesday and my water is fine. am very upset i like/ed my new plecs. any advice?