Hes in a seperate bowl. i have heard reports of them lasting quite a while out of water. My fish isnt moving. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. Bristlenose plecos are unique fish with unique needs and preferences. Why is My Pleco Not Moving? - Avid Aquarist A pleco dying is often the result of bad information and lack of knowhow about the species. Youll want to scoop the fish out of the tank and dispose of it. You might even be making the mistake of thinking that plecos can subsist entirely on algae in the tank. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. Why is my pleco hiding behind the filter? Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. Youll want to try to touch the fish to see if it reacts at all. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. That caused me to look at all of the fish, and I saw that many were very pale. I think you can see him in my signature pic. I think it is just tired or not used to your tank try turning the lights off. You should be changing 15% of the water on a weekly basis. Today he seems very docile. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). They are seriously chill dudes lol. My leopard gecko is not moving and I am really worried My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. i know hes alive because if i try and move him he will swim away, What do i do? Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. Add an airstone if your filter doesnt create enough surface movement. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, and this likely made you confident enough to purchase some even as a beginner. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. Put the torch on dim and slowly turn it up and the Plec is there. Why is my Pleco Floating Upside Down? (4 Quick Solutions) It is usually an injury if it only occurs in one eye. Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. A pleco cant survive off of algae and needs its own diet, apart from what you feed its tank mates. Barely breathing! It's a common pleco and it' Why is my betta sitting by the heater not moving. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Infections are usually caused by the various bacteria and parasites that may be present in the tank. Hello guys, thx for your answer and sry for my late reply. If it was dead youd know it, lol. Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? I wouldn't worry too much about yours! Ensure that youre feeding the fish appropriately. If the water condition and bacterial infections caused the situation, then youll need to fix those problems. Goldfish Laying on his side, breathing ever 15-30 secs. Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. Adding an oxygen source also helps. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? 5 Clear Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - Fur, Wings, & Scaly Things When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Fish can only tolerate 5% water changes every couple of hours, so make sure that you leave enough time between water changes so that your fish does not go into shock. ), -Research nutrition based on specific pleco species, fin edges turn black or brown and look frayed, have white dots (another possible symptom of ich). Since plecos dont have scales, it can be hard to know whether its dropsy or not. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. Make sure to ask your fish store whether they have quarantined the fish already. They will eat some algae but they need more than that to stay healthy. If your pleco's fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fish's body. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. (Possible Causes). We found him on the carpet under his bed and it looked pretty dead. Diseases and Treatment. How is your pleco doing Vicki? Sometimes plecos that can't breathe well will float near the surface of the water. Make sure the tank has been cycled before introducing any fish to it so there are no dangerous spikes in the water. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. Do your best to give your plecos the right food based on what is recommended for their species. I feed my Plec bloodworm, cichlid diet, sinking pellets, flakes and he eats algae. 3. A lot of pleco types also benefit from driftwood in their tank. 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It], Do Plecos Eat Snails? If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. You might not be feeding them enough either. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. Experts Answer, How To Raise Pleco Babies (Full Guide With Pictures), Cory Catfish Tank Mate Guide (+ 11 Best Tank Mates For Cory Catfish), The Ideal & Healthiest Diet For Cory Catfish, Odd Corydoras Behavior & Stress Explained (Full Guide). Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. Its also important to clean the fish tank and do regular water changes to avoid throwing the water parameters off. A filter is a must. Taking care of baby plecos can be challenging in some ways. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? LL, yes I just moved, but the pleco has been in this water for almost a month. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Is there a way to tell if a pleco fish is about to die? Its also possible that plecos will lose color when experiencing significant stress. Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. Does this mean that something happened during the night? When I first set up my pressurized co2 system I was gassing my fish out. Feeding your fish de-shelled peas or other foods high in fiber can help decrease the swelling. Filtration is crucial to keep your water parameters optimal, as pleco catfish are big polluters. Maracyn Two is a product that you can purchase to treat fin rot. They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. To have a healthy Pleco fish, owners should keep assessing all these factors and keep maintaining a quality life for the Pleco for it to survive. In pursuit of becoming a professional, I also want to inspire as many people as I can to pick up this hobby and keep the public interest growing.Read more about Sean.Please join also my Facebook group. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. Youll also learn about why plecos might die so that you might be able to turn things around moving forward. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. The tank is now highly planted, and he's very fast. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. Fish that are acclimated in this fashion become comfortable in new tanks faster. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. Fish are fascinating creatures, and although some are easy to take care of, that doesnt eliminate the possibility of them developing a sickness. Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. If you arent regularly testing the water using a pH balance testing kit, then youre going to have a harder time keeping the fish alive. No matter what we did, he would'nt come out. It can also be due to stress, so separating the bloated fish from its tank mates will ensure a stress-free environment for your pleco to recover. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. You must log in or register to reply here. These are great fish and you want them to thrive under your care. Whatever was wrong has seemed to be fixed as he's now behaving like normal. This disease is called ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and can be fatal if not treated. If he's alive and swims away why are you worried? You can get something called Stress Coat at the pet store, it basically removes any chlorine that may be in your water, it has also been proven to reduce fish stress. 3. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Quarantining fish is putting them in a closed-off environment for a couple of weeks, before putting them in your main tank. But what they carry and what will work I couldn't say. Pleco rotting fins. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. If you dont already have some in your tank, consider putting in some real. Increasing the temperature in the sick fishs tank is another way to combat the disease and aid recovery. Typically, loss of color is associated with poor tank conditions. You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. Tank of the Month, Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good. Fast forward to the next day. The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. This means that this fish only comes out a. They do things at night and youre not going to see them scurrying about much when the sun is out. As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. Plecos are a type of tropical fish that need a heated tank with a filter. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. I doubt this is the issue, but my pleco was acting odd, curving and swimming like he was intoxicated flying from one side to the other, no CO2, regular parameters, but I checked the temperature, like yours mine was breathing up a storm, but I raised the temp 4 degrees up and he was fine my temp dropped to 72, and he was going bananas, but after about 20 minutes I guess he caught a warm front and hugged the heater damn near. It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. Im not sure if somethings wrong or not. It might need a bit more time to get used to its new environment. Ensure you follow the package instructions to ensure proper dosing for your fish. If you want to know everything about setting up a pleco tank, you can read our full guide on it. Lastly, before or during spawning, plecos can breathe more rapidly since this is energy-consuming. Physical damage. if he is acting strange i would try to get him in a small treatment tank with lots of oxygen, dose a general med and salt would be a good start till you can figure out what is wrong with the little fella. For a limited time, download my pleco catfish ebook below on how to care for these beautiful animals. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. Most of the time, a pleco laying on its back or side is normal as they sometimes rest in this position. Clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank with a gravel vacuum, and make sure any decorations are clean as well. Your fish may be suffering from ich if their skin appears to have white dots that look like salt or sugar flakes. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. This can happen to any fish if it does not have enough oxygen in its environment, if it is too cold or hot, or if the water quality has deteriorated. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? Both eyes will appear to protrude if there is an infection present. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. My Pleco Is Laying On It's Side Still Breathing But Not Movi I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. If the oxygen levels get really low, plecos might stop moving. Later in this guide, well go over the exact symptoms of dropsy. Loss of color, rotting fins, and white spots on its body are some of the common signs that a pleco might be dying. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. The white spot on it's eye sounds like some type of fungus. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Pleco catfish don't move . WHats wrong? from the previous caretakers who did a pretty bad job in taking care of fish so I wouldn't be suprised if it is sick or something like that. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. They will float uncontrollably to the top of the aquarium, turned upside down, while still being alive. I read that they loved blanched vegetables, so I have given them a cucumber slice the last three nights for about an hour and then took it out. Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. Water parameters good? Do Plecos Sleep? Do They Play Dead? [Explained] - eFishkeeping As I said, the other fish are showing no signs of stress. His very favorite food though is fresh raw zucchini. Definitely looks underweight. 7 Menacing Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - 2023 - Learn About Pet Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. I had a pleco who lived out of water for 12 mins! Remember to do regular tank maintenance. ive heard a story of one spending a few hours on the carpet under a tank (jumper).. when he was found his skin was all dry and his owner thought he was dead but when he went to pick him up he moved.. so after a few weeks in a recovery tank he was back to normal During our latest move, Wataugachicken and I could'nt dislodge one of the bristle nose plecs from our largest chunk of driftwood. Nighttime is when these fish can take their time exploring their tank to find food, which they often do by keeping their skin touching the substrate (or other objects in the tank). Contests including the Tank of the Month, Injury and stress can also cause cloudy eye issues. Why Do My Plecos Always Die And How To Keep Plecos From Dying? - AG You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Plecos do not have scales and they tend to rot really fast when they die, so as was mentioned above, you. Youll be able to fix things before they get bad so that your fish will stay alive. My male sits in his cave or in front of it to attract the ladies. Why is My Fish Laying On the Side? - Aquarium Hunter Plecos living in an environment with other fish could also be stressed. Plecos turn white for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: poor nutrition, disease, stress, or inadequate tank conditions. How long can a Pl*co survive out of water | AquariaCentral.com White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? This can happen to any fish if it does not have . JavaScript is disabled. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. When the fish tank stays dirty, its going to cause stress to the fish, and that will make them sick. It isnt uncommon for some baby plecos to die even if youre doing your best to care for them. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. Pet stores often sell plecos as algae eaters or cleaner fish which is why you might think it doesnt need its own tank and can survive on leftovers/waste. Cloudy eyes in fish appear as a white cast or film over the eye. We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. There are actually many signs that show you that plecos are in rough shape. I quickly put in an airstone and within 5 minutes they were back to normal. Cause (+ Cures) for a Fish That's Floating Upside-Down But is Still A healthy probably pregnant bristlenose pleco female. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. Is it dying? Cloudy eye is caused by bacteria and if your pleco is under stress, has had an injury, or lower immune system it can come up. Because of excitement, plecos can also breathe more rapidly after a water change. Moving forward, it should be easier to look out for problems with the fish. Quarantining fish is one of the most forgotten things in the hobby. Highly recommend algae wafers. This behavior can also occur when fish are exposed to high temperatures. How to solve a problem like resuscitating an escaped fish If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. Good Luck. Stress. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Full Tank Mate Guide, Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size 101: Everything You Need To Know, Pleco Price: How Much Do Pleco Cost? The water might be dirty or the parameters could be way off of what they should be. Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You want to do the best job that you can while caring for plecos. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. Scraping off small pieces and the biofilm growing on them is beneficial for their digestive system. (By Species), Breeding Pleco Catfish Guide With Pictures, Cory Catfish And Plecos Tank Mate guide, Do plecos bury themselves? Check to see if anything is causing the fish stress. Like fin rot, Ich may appear due to poor tank conditions. Pleco floating upside down | MyFishTank.Net Forum When a pleco is stressed, it lowers its immunity and increases the risk of fast death. Paralyzed pleco - Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. Is Your Pleco Swimming Upside Down? (7 Causes of Swim Bladder Issues) If your pleco has a cloudy eye but acts normal, it will probably go away by itself. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. he has been banging in to the top of the tank really hard. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. When my pleco went nuts, the pH had dropped to 6.8 and the drop checker was very yellow. Always supply food in the presence of light to the baby fish. 0. Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. A swollen belly with pleco catfish is caused by constipation or even worse, dropsy. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. Water quality problems will sometimes cause plecos to develop a condition known as cloudy eye. Most of the day, he is there. Pleco Not Moving but Breathing. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. Malnutrition can also lead to constipation, especially when too much protein is fed. It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. A swollen belly isnt a good sign. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. Many plecos are omnivorous, meaning they need both plant-based foods and protein to thrive. Take any remaining fish out of the water and keep them somewhere safe. He just started acting crazy the last couple of days. It could be related to water quality, malnutrition, or even other things in the tank that are causing the fish stress. Plecos are breathing WAY too fast!! - My Aquarium Club The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. There are over 100 species of plecos, so it is essential to do your research to learn the best source of nutrition for your pleco species. What kind of disease? How big of a tank do they need? There has to be something wrong. If the fish is unable to move, you'll need to be its gills for a while. 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It] | Keeping Catfish Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. In addition, there are specific treatments you can purchase to help your fish suffering from diseases like rotting fins and ich. Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Ich is a condition that involves the fish being infected by parasites. Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? My name is Jeff, and my goal with this site is to share everything I've learned over the years about caring for aquatic life. Mine doesn't get active til well after 10pm at night. Depending on the species, feed a varied diet of both vegetables and protein-rich foods that sink to the bottom. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. I know that this thread was posted in 2003 but I just wanted to revive it as we had an accident with 2 of our pleco's today, a bristlenose and a dwarf clown pleco. Why Does My Pleco Always Hide and Never Come Out? - The Aquarium Adviser There are even plecos that are considered to be carnivorous. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are three crucial parts of the nitrogen cycle of aquariums. Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. A pleco might choose to remain very still and stay in the same spot all day. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. There might not be anything wrong at all. Here are some tips on how you can notice a sick pleco thats possibly even dying. How long have you had the tank? Supply food for the other fish during the day. Feed your pleco a varied diet, that meets the species needs. This can be caused by many things, such as poor water conditions, stress, or poor nutrition. Just keep an eye on him. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. I had similar problems when I had a faulty regulator. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die.