Help with my rubberlip pleco

[ArubaSnuba]

I found my rubberlip/bulldog pleco lying on his back with his belly sticking up earlier this morning. I was wondering if he was dead and then he scooted over a few inches on his back and has remained stuck to the base of a plastic plant. His dorsal fin is raised and I see some lighter color banding on his skin. Are these stress bands?

I've had him just over 2 weeks now. He was active the first few days and cleaned the whole tank of algae. I haven't seen him eat since then but have noticed he has had poop, so he must be eating something. I've dropped in Hikari algae wafers but neve seen him eat it. I think the cories get most of it.


I have him in an Eclipse System 12 with 6 one inch cories (trilneaus), 2 bamboo shrimp (2 inches each) and 1 amano shrimp (1 inch). Water parameters last night after a 50% water change were all fine: pH: 7.2, Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrates: 5.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[willy:-)]

If your pleco was attatched to something while he was on his back he was just searching for food or eating. I do have a concern though... all of your fish are bottom dwellers. I really don't think you have enough room for all of those guys! Rubber lipped plecos get to 6 inches, right? Well anyways I think your pleco should be fine. If he wasn't attached to anything I don't know what to tell you, other than he may be stressed from having so many bottom dwellers, but then again the Eclipse System twelve is pretty big for just corys, a pleco, and shrimp. Also he may eat your shrimp once he grows. Anyway good luck with him!

 

[ArubaSnuba]

Sad to say, but my rubberlip pleco, Mick Jagger, has died. Can't figure it out. Water parameters I just tested are fine: pH 7.0, NH3: 0, NO2: 0, NO3: 5.

The only thing I can think of is the major water change I did 2 days ago might have stirred up some bacteria in the gravel or the addition of 3 more cories stressed him out as they were swimming around him and eating his algae wafer. He was so peaceful and didn't seem to be bothered when the other fishies were slapping his face with their wagging caudal fins.

 

[wataugachicken]

if it was evenly colored and not splotchy, the banding was a sign of growth. both my gibby and my rubberlip show it occasionally. i'm sorry for your loss, don't have any ideas about what may have caused it.