in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! It may not display this or other websites correctly. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. Are you watching him 24/7? Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. Forum and expert information on caring for Bristlenose Catfish However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? This way, you can manage them and check for potential diseases. A fish that doesnt react to being touched is probably dead. I had similar problems when I had a faulty regulator. Feed your pleco a varied diet, that meets the species needs. This is the main reason why we cycle aquarium tanks. While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. Even the pleco was quite all right till yesterday. Change the Tank Water Frequently. Unlike ich or fin rot, there are no medicinal treatments for cloudy eyes, as the problem will solve itself when the cause has been determined and fixed (water conditions, tank aggression, etc.). Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. Then the water got cloudy and that is when they started breathing heavy. Keeping an eye on the water parameters and cleaning the tank regularly will help to prevent things like this from happening. whats wrong? Just as important is what you put in the tank. However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. As I said, the other fish are showing no signs of stress. There might not be anything wrong at all. Can I do something to help? My pleco did the same thing, he still hides in his cave for long periods of time but if I sneak up on the tank he is usually swimming around. There are even plecos that are considered to be carnivorous. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. Im experienced in the fishkeeping hobby for many years. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. You see, plecos are nocturnal fish that like to hide and rest during the day. It is usually an injury if it only occurs in one eye. Full Pleco Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know). My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. Do Plecostomus Need A Filter / Air Pump? {Why Is My Pleco - HelpUsFish For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The signs above have a lot of things in common. Did you just get him? It could simply be that the pleco fish succumbed to an illness during the night. Use a fish net or scoop to touch the fish gently to test whether its alive or not. Molly lying on side on bottom of tank, moving very little. It can get habitual to the routine, and they follow the owner's hand movements. Provide adequate space and decor (ornaments and positioning of objects) so there is no danger for your pleco. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. It was a bristlenose pleco. Nitrate is considerably less dangerous, but should be lower than 30 ppm, and above 50 is the danger zone. I have another one and don't want to lose both. The best way is to use a net or other implement to scoop them out of the water. I still don't know for sure what happened, but I'm going to blame the CO2. It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. This gave me false readings that my water had hardly any co2 in it. I have seen this behavior once before and today, its happening again. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. Cause (+ Cures) for a Fish That's Floating Upside-Down But is Still Why is my pleco hiding behind the filter? Swim Bladder Disorder: How to Tell if Your Floating Pet Fish Is Dead 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. Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. Try touching the fish and see if it reacts. The Pleco is Bloated. If you want fish that are livelier during the day, youd be better off looking for a different type of fish. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. The white spot on it's eye sounds like some type of fungus. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. When I first set up my pressurized co2 system I was gassing my fish out. Is there a way to tell if a pleco fish is about to die? Aren't the nitrates a tad on the high side? Its very plausible that plecos can die due to not being fed properly. Adding fish without acclimating them causes shock. Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. Youll want to try to touch the fish to see if it reacts at all. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. If the chain is broken, this creates dangerous circumstances. Plecos are often wrongfully accused of eating and destroying plants. 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. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. I think it is just tired or not used to your tank try turning the lights off. Wouldn't the fish survive for at least a few days even if it was suffering from a disease? They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. Pleco fish are amazing animals and very interesting for aquarists. Scraping off small pieces and the biofilm growing on them is beneficial for their digestive system. Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. JavaScript is disabled. Malnutrition can also lead to constipation, especially when too much protein is fed. Fin rot is a common infection among aquarium fish. Look at the fish closely and try to see if its gills are moving. Good Luck. It's scared and it's stressed and it's hiding, because it's in a strange place after being caught and boxed up and moved. Also, does he have any places to hide? The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. Of course, its often human error that causes plecos to die in fish tanks. Knowing what signs to look out for might allow you to turn things around before its too late. Taking care of baby plecos can be challenging in some ways. 3. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. 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. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. An ammonia spike is one of the most likely causes of the sudden death of your pleco or other aquarium fish. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. Sick goldfish not moving but breathing/alive. He (or she) is normally pretty active, being a good vacuum cleaner for the tank. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. Not real sure though since don't feel like doing an experiment. If the oxygen levels get really low, plecos might stop moving. Sometimes fish will get like this when theyre sick. One day, I was excited to see the male had trapped the female in a cave, so I was expecting some babies.However, the next morning I waked up noticing the fish death in the cave. Make sure the tank has been cycled before introducing any fish to it so there are no dangerous spikes in the water. Just laying on the bottom. Another result of starvation might be aggression, or your pleco sucking on the slime coat of fish like we sometimes see with goldfish. These are great fish and you want them to thrive under your care. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. If your pleco has seemingly rips/cuts in its fins, its most likely fin rot. My leopard gecko is not moving and I am really worried No matter what we did, he would'nt come out. Did you add any new fish recently, particularly any wild caught or F1s? Put the torch on dim and slowly turn it up and the Plec is there. The most common cause of this is poor water conditions. Pleco turning white is one of the signs your pleco is dying Temperature, stress, food, environment, water or bullying all can lead to discoloration of plecos and eventually death. My Albino catfish does this all the time. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. !My betta fish isnt moving but he is alive. Maracyn Two is a product that you can purchase to treat fin rot. What are you feeding this little guy? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypostomus_plecostomus, https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/plecostomus.html, Why Is My Goldfish Turning Black? I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. What are some signs that your pleco is dying? Foods that sink to the bottom where the plecos can eat them. I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . A swollen belly isnt a good sign. Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. A pleco cant survive off of algae and needs its own diet, apart from what you feed its tank mates. You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. 7 - Dropsy In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. If you have a nitrite spike in your aquarium, it will make the fishes red blood cells unable to carry oxygen, leading to it suffocating. This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. If your plecos dont seem to be doing so well, then youre probably disheartened. Moving forward, it should be easier to look out for problems with the fish. Feed food before lights out and he is likely to come out when it is dark to feed. High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. 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. Are there females in the tank with him? Fix issues with the water quality and give the fish antibacterial treatments. If it doesnt move if you try to touch it, then its truly dead. 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. Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. JavaScript is disabled. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. What can I do? I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was ONE TOUGH FISH. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. 3. 7 Menacing Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - 2023 - Learn About Pet Plecos are notoriously difficult to remove from a tank, its not uncommon for people to spend hours trying to find the perfect device or method to catch this fish. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. You called it a he is it actually male? 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It], Do Plecos Eat Snails? My pleco is sick. :( | Freshwater Fish Disease and Health Forum Keep the filter, heater, and lights on for long enough periods of time to ensure their comfort. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. If there is no reaction, then the fish is truly dead. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. Baby plecos have been known to die when the water temperature fluctuates too much. Young animals are sensitive to too much protein. 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. If the fish is hiding among the plants or in a cave and not moving, thats perfectly normal. You shouldnt count the fish out completely just yet, though. You want to do the best job that you can while caring for plecos. What should I do?! When the fish tank stays dirty, its going to cause stress to the fish, and that will make them sick. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! This is of course innocent. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. They arent necessarily fish that will swim around and show off for you during the day under normal circumstances. Stress. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. Rapid temperature changes, irregular feeding schedules, and poor water conditions also contribute to stress in fish. Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. If it truly isnt moving at all, then there is a good chance that the fish is dead. He is breathing, but he isn't moving. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Take any remaining fish out of the water and keep them somewhere safe. You may see this in plecos that don't get enough to eat. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving : r/Aquariums - Reddit 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. An oxygen deficit can be caused by a nitrite/ammonia spike, high temperatures, or a broken filter. Touch the fish and see if you can get it to spring up. 5 Clear Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - Fur, Wings, & Scaly Things Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Check out the FishForums.net Monthly Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or EAT? - YouTube Checking the water levels to ensure there are no harmful ammonia levels and correcting the problem with water changes will help your fish gain its movement back. Why is my Pleco Floating Upside Down? (4 Quick Solutions) The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. So I sighed, and accepted I was going to lose him. 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. Plecos are breathing WAY too fast!! - My Aquarium Club You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. He flaps his fins about once e Help, my guppy is lying on its back and isnt moving but is still alive. I quickly put in an airstone and within 5 minutes they were back to normal. This situation can be turned around if you act fast. What kind of disease? I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. One or both eyes might wind up being covered by a white or gray slime. When plecos are just getting used to a new environment, theyre going to be rather skittish. They like to eat shrimp and bloodworms. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. WHats wrong? He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. My Pleco Isnt Moving | My Aquarium Club The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. If your pleco fish doesnt appear to be moving, youre likely going to be incredibly concerned. Click here. Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. When one of us would pack it in for a while we would pass this one pleco to another person. Sadly, my pleco died that night. Hes in a seperate bowl. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. 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. pleco not moving but breathing You might not be feeding them enough either. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. Why Does My Pleco Always Hide and Never Come Out? - The Aquarium Adviser I wouldn't worry too much about yours! If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. Barely breathing! It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. My guppy is laying on its side at the bottom of the tank and still moving. It can be caused by elevated ammonia levels in the tank or an injury that resulted in a bacterial infection. They take a full breath, in and out, about 6 times a second. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. Hopefully, this will never happen in your fish tank. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. If it was dead youd know it, lol. All Rights Reserved. In addition, there are specific treatments you can purchase to help your fish suffering from diseases like rotting fins and ich. 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). My husband's pleco often does this. #3. Sometimes the fish might even be upside down. Pleco not moving | Pleco - Plecostomus Forum - FishLore Aquarium Fish Forum (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. 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. As you can tell, its important to treat things as soon as you can. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. All you need to do is solve the issues that are making the fish sick. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? Fast forward to the next day. Highly recommend algae wafers. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. So i cranked it up. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. If your temperature and pH are out of this range, you need to take steps to remedy the situation. Cloudy eyes will be a sign that the fish is being kept in bad water. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. Your pleco needs immediate care in both cases. 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. They should be living for a very long time under your care. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. If you give them a variety of hiding spots, a variety of plants, and a variety of tank mates, your pleco will most likely be happier and more active. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. Why is my fish laying on its side at the bottom? He is starting to show his age but. You always want to do the best job that you can when taking care of fish. However, if you tap the fish tank, itll likely spring up and start swimming. Do your best to determine what is wrong with the fish. 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. 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. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. It can take a few days for him to convinced one to lay eggs for him then he sits in the cave and fans them. To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. Many people mistakenly think that plecos dont need to be fed. He might be guarding eggs or trying to entice a female to breed with him. Most of the day, he is there. If you cant see the gills moving, this suggests that the fish is truly dead. Today, I found him lying on his back on the floor of the tank but he is still alive. (Possible Causes). Very bad water conditions might even directly kill the fish. If you offer them a place where they can feel safe, such as a dark spot under an ornamental plant, they will often come out to visit with you. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention - Avid Aquarist My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. If the fish is breathing, its likely that its simply resting. He was just hanging there out of the water not moving. How to Keep Baby Plecos Alive? 11 Facts You Should Know - WhyPetFish.com Often, its very hard to tell whether your pleco is sick or not. Abdominal swelling typically means that the fish has some type of internal infection. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? If the fish appears to be sick, then it might not be moving because it has some type of disease. There are many things to consider, and you dont want to ignore signs that your fish are in trouble. Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. Clean your fish tank. 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). Ensure that youre feeding the fish appropriately. This means that this fish only comes out a. He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. Feeding your fish de-shelled peas or other foods high in fiber can help decrease the swelling. It was in a tank with Piranha and had scars on it, but after a while they left it alone. However, many times, the death of a plecostomus is avoidable by some simple changes in their care. Unfortunately, this is not true. That caused me to look at all of the fish, and I saw that many were very pale. This disease is called ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and can be fatal if not treated. Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. There are common signs and symptoms among fish diseases that show your fish is battling more than just a common sickness. A lot of pleco types also benefit from driftwood in their tank. A pleco might choose to remain very still and stay in the same spot all day. If you want to know everything about setting up a pleco tank, you can read our full guide on it. Keep reading to know more. 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.
Do Sausage Kolaches Need To Be Refrigerated,
Carol City Middle School Uniform Colors,
Articles P