Please help my pleco!!!!!!!

F

Fox_Demon2

AC Members
Jun 4, 2010
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well my pleco is about 6-7 inches and had him for about a year now. i have four 2-3 inch oscars and two 5-6 inch red-tail tinfoil barbs living with him in a 29 gallon tank. he barely moves at all now as he moves lifelessly at the botttom. i haven't seen him on the glass lately, so i put his cucumber next to him and he laid on it but wasn't suckiing on it, it seems he hasn't eaten in two weeks, and his fins are wearing away. i was going to do a water change tomorrow, but i dont want to take a chance of stressing him out even more. i've been keeping a close eye on him, the fish look like they haven't been messing with him. and last night i saw him laying on his side leaning againts the glass, what does this mean, i haven't seen him like that. please help!!!!!!!!!! i've had him longer than any other fish and i would be so hurt if i lost him :(
 
First, two questions:

1) Do you know the species of pleco?

2) Do you realize the potential adult size of the fish you are keeping and the HUGE problem that causes given your tank size?

I would say even right now you are pretty overstocked and that could have a large factor on the activity of the pleco. When those fish are full grown you will need hundreds of gallons.

Another question: do you have a liquid test kit? If so, we really need to know your water parameters. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are most important but the more info the better.

Please consider and upgrade VERY soon if you haven't already.

All this aside it is important to note that sometimes plecos just become lazier with age. However, that is not to say that you should not be worried about the future of this tank. IMO it is a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Your tank is way too small for these fish. It is likely you have a water quality issue. You will need a 6' (or larger) tank to house the fish you have as they need ample swimming room.

Considering the Bioload your fish produce I would start with doing 30% water changes daily. If the fins are ragged it is possibly fin rot (bacterial from bad water) or fighting (not enough room) The stress from either condition can kill.

Pleas rehome these fish responsibly or get a larger tank (150 gallon or more).
 
Water peramiters would help alot to begin to unravel this mystery, any who I agree with Jpappy 100%, you are headed for a real disaster if you dont upgrade to at the very least, and i do mean very least, a 150 gallon tank.
 
i'm so sorry i got the wrong measurements. my oscars are a little over 1 inch and my tinfoil barbs are a little over 2 inches. my pleco is about 4-5 inches. im so sorry. Jhappy, sorry i dont know the spieces of pleco, i was trying to post a pic but my computer is being stupid. i'll try to post it as soon as i can. i dont have a liquid test kit. he's starting to move around the tank, he usually stayed on one side of the tank and moved around there, but he still hasn't been on the glass
 
jpappy789 said:
First, two questions:

1) Do you know the species of pleco?

2) Do you realize the potential adult size of the fish you are keeping and the HUGE problem that causes given your tank size?

I would say even right now you are pretty overstocked and that could have a large factor on the activity of the pleco. When those fish are full grown you will need hundreds of gallons.

Another question: do you have a liquid test kit? If so, we really need to know your water parameters. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are most important but the more info the better.

Please consider and upgrade VERY soon if you haven't already.

All this aside it is important to note that sometimes plecos just become lazier with age. However, that is not to say that you should not be worried about the future of this tank. IMO it is a disaster waiting to happen.
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i'm so sorry i got the wrong measurements. my oscars are a little over 1 inch and my tinfoil barbs are a little over 2 inches. my pleco is about 4-5 inches. im so sorry. Jhappy, sorry i dont know the spieces of pleco, i was trying to post a pic but my computer is being stupid. i'll try to post it as soon as i can. i dont have a liquid test kit. he's starting to move around the tank, he usually stayed on one side of the tank and moved around there, but he still hasn't been on the glass
 
Currently they may be fine in the tank but the oscars WILL get over a foot in length and I think the barbs will as well. If you bought the pleco under the "common pleco" name then it could grow anywhere from 8-10" to over two feet in length. I would post pics so you know what you are dealing with.

Please also get a liquid test kit (I recommend the API master kit) as soon as possible.
 
i do know the potential size of all these fish, i research on them almost three times a week. even if its just some video of them eating something. i'm very sensitive with my oscars, if i see just a ever so slight fin torn on my oscars, i do everything i can to make them better. i probably wont get a bottom feeder for awhile. its just live and learn. its my first time handling with these kind of fish. i'll just have to keep moving. thank you for your help
 
Sorry you lost the pleco. From your description, he was very near death when you posted. It could have been a few things....you had him almost a year so obviously he was eating, but was he getting enough? It is their nature to eat 24/7. And it may have been your water quality deteriorating. But without reading what your tank maintenance routine is, that would be hard to see. Just keep an eye on the rest of the tank inhabitants to make sure nothing contagious is going on in there.
 
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