Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. Infections are usually caused by the various bacteria and parasites that may be present in the tank. One of our goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank and not moving. Of course, its often human error that causes plecos to die in fish tanks. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. Hopefully, this will never happen in your fish tank. Fish laying on the bottom of the tank and breathing deeply require action as soon as possible. Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. If an injury is to blame, then it might get better on its own if you keep feeding the fish and monitoring the tank conditions carefully. Many things can cause stress such as poor water conditions, overcrowded fish tanks, and incompatible tank mates. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. Click here. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. Stress. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. There are common signs and symptoms among fish diseases that show your fish is battling more than just a common sickness. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. Knowing what signs to look out for might allow you to turn things around before its too late. My fish is breathing slowly and is laying at the bottom of his tank on his side. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. They will float uncontrollably to the top of the aquarium, turned upside down, while still being alive. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. Physical damage. If your temperature and pH are out of this range, you need to take steps to remedy the situation. Later in this guide, well go over the exact symptoms of dropsy. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. Rapid temperature changes, irregular feeding schedules, and poor water conditions also contribute to stress in fish. Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? I drop an algae wafer in every other day and he usually jumps right on it but since he stays in his little all the time now Im not sure if he eats it. These are great fish and you want them to thrive under your care. I have another one and don't want to lose both. When a pleco fish dies in the fish tank, itll stop moving and itll float. If your pleco is losing its color and slowly turning white, this might be an indication that it's either sick or dying. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. The Pleco is Bloated. 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. It might need a bit more time to get used to its new environment. There are other reasons why a pleco might start floating, but its possible that the fish could be dead. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not movi By entering this site you declare Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. What should I do?! 0. When using tap water you need to use tap water conditioner. One or both eyes might wind up being covered by a white or gray slime. Researching before owning your pleco will give you the necessary information and guidance on preventing and treating these issues when they happen because not every fish owner is perfect. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention. Checking your tanks levels and temperatures will help you determine if the tanks conditions are unsafe for your pleco. How is your pleco doing Vicki? Supply food for the other fish during the day. Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. This situation can be turned around if you act fast. The fish could have been on the verge of death for some time. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. he has been banging in to the top of the tank really hard. They are seriously chill dudes lol. Injury and stress can also cause cloudy eye issues. 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. Although water conditions are the primary cause of these symptoms, low water temperature can also be a cause. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Pleco catfish don't move . The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. Pleco rotting fins. If there are no good bacteria, harmful levels of ammonia can build up quickly as plecos produce a lot of waste. All Rights Reserved. This means that this fish only comes out a. I have seen bottom dwelling loaches just get very pale and colorless when there is too much CO2 in the water. 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). Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. Its very plausible that plecos can die due to not being fed properly. A healthy probably pregnant bristlenose pleco female. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. Cloudy eyes in fish appear as a white cast or film over the eye. Hallo everyone, I have a question concerning my 4 year old 10.6 inch pleco. In general these catfish aren't very demanding when it comes to space requirements since they share bottom levels of tanks or just rest on large plants and, as mentioned above, adult specimens grow to 13 cm in length (approximately 5 inches), moreover females grow smaller than males. I thought the pH controller was set okay so I wasn't too worried. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. Vicki, I think it was the CO2 as well. 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. (his color blends in real well with the wall - and where he wedged himself in is hard to see unless you are looking for it. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? A lot of pleco types also benefit from driftwood in their tank. If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. Touch the fish and see if you can get it to spring up. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. Youll want to try to touch the fish to see if it reacts at all. You might need to address water quality issues. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. We finished breaking down our multiple tanks, loaded the moving truck, drove it for three hours, spent two more hours waiting for the moving helpers, got the truck unloaded, started setting up the tanks, put the decor back in, added the fish. and the bristle nose swam out of the wood when we put in algae wafers. A long, long, long time ago when I was young my friends and I always had tanks. It very well might be dead if it doesnt appear to be moving at all. Do your best to give your plecos the right food based on what is recommended for their species. Htels & Rsidences de tourisme; tablissements recevant du public; Habitats individuels & collectifs; Amnagements extrieurs; Design, Mobilier & Tapisseries Perhaps it seems lethargic and it might even be laying on its side. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! Fish laying on its side, mouth open. They can also take advantage of other opportunities that come with darkness, like avoiding predators. Can be seen here, incuding specific details and how-to's on some of my special features. I feed my Plec bloodworm, cichlid diet, sinking pellets, flakes and he eats algae. Sometimes the fish might even be upside down. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? Taking care of baby plecos can be challenging in some ways. Most Plecos are nocturnal and we don't get to see them eat. Common pleco not moving after tank flush! If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. These fish simply arent active during the day. It was not just one of my plecos but several. Recently, I watched. Then it has cloudy eyes. If you want fish that are livelier during the day, youd be better off looking for a different type of fish. Receive our FREE eBook by filling out the form below. Full Pleco Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know). For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Many conditions that have the potential to kill plecos can be fixed with the right treatments. T. Swearingen, http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=126, S.Barbatus & Black C. Schultzei breeding tank. Maracyn Two is a product that you can purchase to treat fin rot. Hello, I have this pleco for like 6 months. To deal with any such situation, you should have the contact of a veterinarian in your new [], @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. Youve learned so much about signs that your plecos are dying. Why is my fish laying on its side at the bottom? Juts curious - as I was doing a water change today and about 10 minutes into it I noted my true Albino Bristlenose Ancistrus wedged in between my rock wall - and my overflow box at the top of the tank. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. Ich is very contagious and can be fatal, so removing the sick fish from the tank is important if other fish inhabit the same environment. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Learn more. I think that it is nothing to worry about. Water parameters good? If your plecos dont seem to be doing so well, then youre probably disheartened. While in fact, there are hundreds. You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. Continue reading to learn about reasons why plecos might stop moving. A swollen belly with pleco catfish is caused by constipation or even worse, dropsy. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. This could happen to any fish owner, so it is essential to understand the causes of these symptoms and how to treat them. This way, you can manage them and check for potential diseases. Do not . Youll be able to fix things before they get bad so that your fish will stay alive. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. Make sure the tank has been cycled before introducing any fish to it so there are no dangerous spikes in the water. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. I think you can see him in my signature pic. He also has a white spot on his eye. You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. Definitely looks underweight. Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. The problem may have been caused by the fish swallowing air, so pre-soak the fish food in the future to avoid this problem. You called it a he is it actually male? Does this mean that something happened during the night? 2 - Rotting Fins. It's just another misleading thing that pet stores advertise. (Possible Causes). Just keep an eye on him. Its also possible that plecos will lose color when experiencing significant stress. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. The best way to prevent your Pleco from dying is to feed them a variety of food and provide at least 10 gallons of water for them every day. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. Just like any other fish, they need a certain environment to feel good. 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. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? Most of the day, he is there. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. Having more females than males also helps. To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. You also have to keep in mind that theyre nocturnal. As per him, he had that pleco for like 3-4 years. I don't have a picture but he looks kind of like this: Since he is a common pleco he is going to grow too big even for a 90 gallon (plus the waste he produces), if you would like we can help you pick out a medium sized pleco that will fit in with your other fish if you are willing to rehome your current pleco. I have heard of RTC living out of water for 45 mins!!! This process involves floating the bag on top of the tank. They like to eat shrimp and bloodworms. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. Clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank with a gravel vacuum, and make sure any decorations are clean as well. If it truly isnt moving at all, then there is a good chance that the fish is dead. My betta is laying at the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily. !My betta fish isnt moving but he is alive. Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. A swollen belly isnt a good sign. Theres nothing wrong with a pleco than has a rounded belly (its in fact healthy) but if it looks bloated, this is bad. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. This behavior can also occur when fish are exposed to high temperatures. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. It was a bristlenose pleco. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Are there females in the tank with him? Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. Here are some tips on how you can notice a sick pleco thats possibly even dying. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. 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. I have a fish who is laying at the bottom of the tank breathing rapidly whi My betta fish is laying at its side at the bottom of his tank and looks like hes struggling to My fish is laying on the bottom of the tank still breathing, Oscar laying on one side and only breathing (not moving at all) since morning. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Thanks, Tex Gal. Good Luck. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. The tank is now highly planted, and he's very fast. FishForums.net is one of the internet's oldest and premier Tropical Fish and Aquarium forums! Now the tank is in pretty bad shape (were working on it!) Fast forward to the next day. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. You can make acclimating to the tank easier for the fish by taking the time to float the bag before putting it in the tank. You want to do the best job that you can while caring for plecos. A sunken belly is the result of the gut flora dying off and even though these fish are very hardy, it will lead to death. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It], Do Plecos Eat Snails? It's good to get confirmation as to what happened. Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. If your pleco is sleeping: They will typically be in a motionless or relaxed position, with their fins and gills not moving as much as usual. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. Good luck. I quickly put in an airstone and within 5 minutes they were back to normal. Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. Although some plecos do like to eat algae, not all of them do. My fish is alive and moving, but isnt breathing? Also, theyre nocturnal fish that rest during the day. Make sure to take notice of this behavior, and to check your water parameters to know whether there might be a cause for this. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. My fish isnt moving. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. This can make it very tough for the fish to swim around normally. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Even the tiny three-inch long zebra plecos are carnivores. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. This can happen to one eye or both. Plecos need to be kept in fish tanks with high oxygen levels. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. If it was dead youd know it, lol. Sorry your pleco is ill. every day I feed the fish in my school aquarium and I've notice the pleco doesn't ever move. Change the Tank Water Frequently. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. Pleco catfish don't move a lot he started they're nocturnal. These fish enjoy hiding and they often stay in the same place at the bottom of the aquarium. You see, plecos are nocturnal fish that like to hide and rest during the day. Quarantining fish is one of the most forgotten things in the hobby. pleco During a water change, I also removed a decoration containing a 2" common pleco and placed all the decorations in an igloo cooler overnight[was installing an ugj system] to my amazement the next day while I was replacing the decor, low and behold there was my pleco in the bottom of the cooler, he had been in there for over 20 hrs. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. Check to see if anything is causing the fish stress. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. The signs above have a lot of things in common. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. Infections can be treated by isolating the sick fish and consulting your vet to determine the proper treatment. 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. By entering this site you declare In some cases, it might even be as extreme as males killing each other. We might get a modest commission at no extra cost to you. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. They should be living for a very long time under your care. Especially because plecos love oxygen-rich water (they often live in fast-flowing streams and rivers) adding an airstone or pointing your filter outlet in a way that it creates bubbles is useful. Put the torch on dim and slowly turn it up and the Plec is there. They will hide, or just freeze like a rock if they think they are in danger or are freaking out. He flaps his fins about once e Help, my guppy is lying on its back and isnt moving but is still alive. Take action by doing water changes and adding an air pump. Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. I've haven't tried touching him by hand but when I touched him with a net it seemed like he tried to run away but couldn't. I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. Help!! I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. When capturing the fish, be sure not to grab the tail fin because this could damage it.