View Full Version : Pleco rotting away
I just noticed that my pleco's skin and fins are falling off revealing pink flesh. What is going on here?
NJ Devils Fan
01-03-2003, 9:28 AM
What size tank do you have? What are the water parameters?
What other fish do you have in this tank?
I have come to notice that fish in my store get this when they are soon to die (sorry to say..) and the other plecos decide they are already a snack.
EDIT: NJDevilsFan: You like to post "What tank size do you have? What are the water parameters?" Dontcha? :p
NYQYL
01-03-2003, 12:59 PM
The pleco is now in a 120 gallon tank with a pair of convicts and JD's. PH is around 8.
I just moved all my inhabitants from a 40 gallon long to the 120.
The cichlids are doing fine but the pleco just started to rot away when placed in the new tank for about 2 weeks now.
The cichlids are not attacking the pleco either.
Lynsey
01-04-2003, 8:17 PM
Was the tank fully cycled before you moved the fish to the tank? If not, it could be ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
NJ Devils Fan
01-05-2003, 3:15 AM
LOL Mfish, I always ask bcause no one ever says it on their first post.
Barbie
01-05-2003, 3:59 AM
With the limited facts to go on, I'd definitely recommend you check your ammonia levels in the tank, and do some good volume water changes. Provide the pleco with room to hide, where the cichlids can't nip his fins also. Hope that helps.
Barbie
It could be the nitrate or ammonia thing, I did use the pleco to cycle the tank. But he did not show these signs until 2 weeks after i put him in there. The other fish do not show any similiar signs.
Barbie
01-06-2003, 10:40 AM
So you think your tank cycled in less than two weeks? That's usually when you see the first ammonia spike. Have you tested it? If you have another tank running, you could supplement bacteria from the filter media from it. Good luck.
Barbie
I put a filter from an existing tank and gravel in the new aquarium for 3 weeks before I put the pleco in.
OrionGirl
01-07-2003, 9:07 AM
Was anything in the tank in those 3 weeks? If not, all the bacteria in the media/filter died off--no food in an empty tank.
fish dude
01-07-2003, 5:05 PM
i think there is too much nitrate... do water changes!