Whats wrong with my Pleco?

D

DVDA

AC Members
May 21, 2008
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He keeps flipping himself upside down and laying on his back...

He we will lay there for a long time doing a sucking motion with his lips, is he dying?

What could it be? The water is fine, no new tank mates been in the tank for a long time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
first you'll have to give us for info
what are your water parameters? what size tank? tank mates?
 
40 Gallon Tank

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
P.h 7.6

Tank Mates =
4 Fancy Adult Guppies
10 Neon Tetras
2 Marble Angelfish
1 Red Tail Shark
1 Pelco (the sick fish)
 
Just noticed there was a posting guide...the sticky should say "Read before posting"

Here are my answers


What are your water parameters? State the brand of test kit used.

Stated in above reply, brand is API

3. Is your aquarium set up freshwater or brackish water?

Fresh

4. How long the aquarium has been set up?

1 Year

5. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?

Answered above, all the fish have been there a long time, Pelco was there the longest

6. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?

Nope, dont have aquarium tank

7. What temperature is the tank water currently?

75 F

8. Are there live plants in the aquarium?

Nope

9. What filter are you using? State brand, maintenance routine and power capacity.

Marineland Pro and a Undergravel filter dont know the company


10. Any other equipment used (aside from heater and filter which are two very important components of the tank)?

No


11. Does your aquarium receive natural sunlight at any given part of the day? What is your lighting schedule (assuming you do not rely on sunlight for our viewing pleasure)?

Does not get direct sunlight, turn tank light on at 7 pm and turn it off around 1 am (complete darkness from 1 am to 7 am...then natural light, lights room)


12. When did you perform your last water change and how much water was changed? How often do you change your water? Do you vacuum the substrate?

Python once a week 20-30% (do it by eye lol, add Prime


13. What foods do you provide your fish? What is the feeding schedule?

Once a day or once every other day (Flakes, Staple Flakes)


14. What unusual signs have you observed in your fish?

See first post


15. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? If so, what treatments did you use? State your reasons for planning ahead of proper diagnosis.

No
 
Some things I have observed from your post that may be an issue

Temperature: your temp is ok for a common pleco.. but it is imperative that you give detail and/or picture of the type of pleco as some of them need much warmer water

Food: flakes are not enough to supplement most plecos.. some eat meat, some eat veggies, and most eat both... algae wafers, shrimp pellets, and fresh veggies are all very important to keep the pleco healthy

Also.. are there any noticable signs of disease.. markings or sores?

is the fish floating on top when he is conducting this behavior or is he on the bottom?

Did you test the water BEFORE your last water change? what where the readings?
 
BTW sorry to be an ***.. but I cant help myself

its PLECO.. as in PLECOSTOMUS

not pelco... lol
 
HarlanAshmore said:
maybe he/she is just trying to tell you it wants better food
Click to expand...

I think thats definately a good analogy

it sounds to me like the poor thing is dying of starvation.... plecos seldom eat flake

and even if they do.. its not enough for them
 
DVDA can you tell me if the stomach of the pleco looks sunken in instead of nice and rounded and full? I am concerned that the pleco hasn't been getting enough to eat with just flake food.
 
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