What is wrong with my Pleco?

[Dayna]

I have a pleco that is just staying still on his rock and not moving. He doesn't even respond when a net is inserted into the tank. Usually when a net is insert in the tank he goes berserk and takes off. But today you can nugde him with the net and he doesn't do anything. I have no idea what is going on with it. It was fine last night before I went to bed. My other fish are fine. I have daninos and they are swimming around no problem. Please help

 

[captaincaveman9]

what are your water parameters? did you do anything to the tank in the last few days?

 

[Bubbles2112]

As was stated above we will need your water parameters, tank size and stocking list to be able to help you better. I hope we can help your pleco. Do you know what kind of pleco it is?

 

[Dayna]

The temp of the water is about 75, the tank size is a 10 gallon tank. I am sure what you mean by the stocking list. He is a common pleco

 

[excuzzzeme]

1. The tank is too small and needs about a 75 or larger.

2. Need your water test results ammonia, nitrate, nitrite.

3. How often do you change the water?

4. What other fish or inverts are also in the tank and how many of each?

5. Have you checked to see if it's still alive?

6. The fish store lied to you and the common plecos gets to about 20 inches long.

 

[Dayna]

How do you know if your pleco is dead?

 

[laurenrocksth]

Do you see his gills moving?

 

[tbsused0327]

1. The tank is too small and needs about a 75 or larger.

2. Need your water test results ammonia, nitrate, nitrite.

3. How often do you change the water?

4. What other fish or inverts are also in the tank and how many of each?

5. Have you checked to see if it's still alive?

6. The fish store lied to you and the common plecos gets to about 20 inches long.

I disagree with the 75 gallon I have a common pleco in a 55 and he is as happy as could be. I do however agree that you need a way bigger tank than a 10 gallon. That is definitely way to small for a common pleco.

 

[Bubbles2112]

Do you have a test kit for your water? They usually don't sell the tanks and the kits together so you'd have to get one seperately. If you don't have one--then you should probably look into purchasing one. The test strips are really not good but they sell a lot of them because they are inexpensive. It really pays off to get a better testing kit that will give you more exact readings especially when you're dealing with a 10 gallon tank as the readings can fluctuate rather quickly. By stocking level--I meant can you tell us what kind of fish you have in your tank--Sorry about that.

 

[captaincaveman9]

I disagree with the 75 gallon I have a common pleco in a 55 and he is as happy as could be. I do however agree that you need a way bigger tank than a 10 gallon. That is definitely way to small for a common pleco.

I agree with Ex here, a 75 should be the minimum for a full grown common. a 55 will work for a period of time. but they produce a lot of waste.