Cichlids and Pleco

[cwebster1014]

I have had a tank full of cichlids and I got a pleco to clean the walls of the tank. The pleco stayed in the bubbles of my tank for 3 days and died. The cichlids didn't touch him. I got another pleco months later and it lasted two days and died and this fish didn't get attached by the cichlids either. I haven't had a cichlid die in over a year and the plecos can only last three days. Does anybody know what is wrong?

Chris

[DeRo316]

What kind of pleco was it?
Most plecos need more than just the algae off the glass to survive. Algae wafers, veggies(cucumber, lettuce, etc), and some are even carnivores. They also need hiding places so it could have just been stress.

[rosswake]

having a place to hide is crucial for plecos. Even if they aren't completely hidden, they need to have a "secure" place to go during the day. that might be your problem, or it could be your fish source. They might already have internal problems before you get them and would have died in a few days no matter whose tank they were in.

[DaisyTattoo]

How often do you do water changes? Have you tested your water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates? If so what are the numbers? This could be a HUGE factor in a fish dying so quickly after being introduced into a tank.