Pleco Jumping into Filter?

M

Macromatt

AC Members
Mar 18, 2003
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Clinton Township, MI
www.mattbaclar.com
I had my 9" pleco do something totally unexpected today. I was in the other room and heard some rasping noises and water splashing violently. I went into the room, and the Pleco's head was in the filter return. It is a small AC200 that I'm loading with bacteria for a new tank down the line, He was almost to the filter box area, and the rasping noise was him sucking on the plastic (I think), the splashing was his body and tail thrashing around. I watched him for a min trying to decide if I should help him get out, when he slowly lid back into the tank and went to his normal nightly routine.

Weird for me to see, anyone ever experience anything like this before?


Matt
 
Often times there is algae that gets on the filter where the water returns due to the light nearby and often they will try and get some of the algae off but mine have never tried to crawl in, but I would assume he is just trying to get algae off. Just make sure you are feeding him enough and all should be fine.
1tank-I don't know if it is just SW eels but I have never had a problem with that. All my sw eels have been perfect and never tried to escape. The only time one of them tried to escape was when another fish was attacking him and the other fish was quickly moved. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.
 
Recently got a gold nugget pleco, and the first night in the isolation tank he found his way into the Whisper filter. Certainly found the darkest available spot.
 
i bought a zebra pleco a few years ago and put him in my tank 2 days later he disapeared. i was puzzled i figured he died and someone ate him well a month later i was cleaning filter and he was in the filter box. i think he liked the strong water movement because plecos come from rivers. i ve also seen other plecos try the same thing
 
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I had my 9" pleco do something totally unexpected today. I was in the other room and heard some rasping noises and water splashing violently. I went into the room, and the Pleco's head was in the filter return. It is a small AC200 that I'm loading with bacteria for a new tank down the line, He was almost to the filter box area, and the rasping noise was him sucking on the plastic (I think), the splashing was his body and tail thrashing around. I watched him for a min trying to decide if I should help him get out, when he slowly lid back into the tank and went to his normal nightly routine.
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Matt,

Is your water well oxygenated? If so, there may have been something in there that he was interested in. They will generally go where the most oxygen is if they feel it is lacking.
 
Originally posted by brianfl


Matt,

Is your water well oxygenated? If so, there may have been something in there that he was interested in. They will generally go where the most oxygen is if they feel it is lacking.
Click to expand...

Nope, not lacking in oxygen, He hasn't done that since then, I have been watching him for 2 days now closely and he appears completely normal, eating and breathing and swimming, and mostly sitting on his piece of driftwood. I think it was one of those rare fluke things all animals do occationally.

Thanks for all the reply's,

Matt
 
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