Checking and monitoring the levels, temperature and pH will ensure the tank has the proper conditions for your pleco. 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. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. All Rights Reserved. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. Many conditions that have the potential to kill plecos can be fixed with the right treatments. JavaScript is disabled. You must log in or register to reply here. Baby plecos have been known to die when the water temperature fluctuates too much. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. A filter is a must. Its also possible that nothing is wrong at all. 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. 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. The tank is now highly planted, and he's very fast. It was a bristlenose pleco. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. Problems can occur when caring for 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. What kind of disease? The Pleco is Bloated. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. This happened all of a sudden. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. Its also imperative to regularly clean the fish tank. To revive a dying pleco, perform a big water change and make sure the water parameters are optimal. Checking your tanks levels and temperatures will help you determine if the tanks conditions are unsafe for your pleco. Many things can cause stress such as poor water conditions, overcrowded fish tanks, and incompatible tank mates. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. But what they carry and what will work I couldn't say. I know one of my tetras had mouth fungus and I used aquari-sol and it took care of the problem. 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. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. You really dont want to end up with a whole tank of death fish because you put in one sick fish. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". lol. If it was dead youd know it, lol. Did you just get him? Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more! 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. If there are elevated levels of chemicals, perform small water changes for a couple of days to lower the concentration. I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. Fixing constipation issues will be easy. Poor conditions in the tank can contribute to infections. Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. But the water parameters are checking out okay. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention. Now that weve gone over signs your pleco is dying, the most likely causes and solutions, its time to prevent it from happening in the future. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. (By Species), Breeding Pleco Catfish Guide With Pictures, Cory Catfish And Plecos Tank Mate guide, Do plecos bury themselves? this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! Sadly, my pleco died that night. You should be able to keep plecos alive for many years with proper care. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. 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. Or can he be savedlaying on side at bottom of tank, Betta laying at bottom of tank, not eating, pale, barely breathing. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. If not he likely is moving when you are not around, most pleco are very shy (without a ton of hiding places and a shyer personality can make the pleco even more reclusive), some species are worse for being out and about than others. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. 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). The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. I have another one and don't want to lose both. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. They should be living for a very long time under your care. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! 3. Hes in a seperate bowl. This situation can be turned around if you act fast. 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. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Plecos can stay in the same place for long periods of time, or move and go back without you knowing it. There might not be anything wrong at all. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. He said that probably it was aged quite a lot. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. They like to eat shrimp and bloodworms. Low immune system. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. Add an airstone if your filter doesnt create enough surface movement. 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. 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. Plecos living in an environment with other fish could also be stressed. Vote. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. You might even be making the mistake of thinking that plecos can subsist entirely on algae in the tank. Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. The pleco has stayed motionless in the same spot and position for a few weeks and I started wondering if it was dead so this morning I took a net and stuck it near him and he freaked out, swam around and went back to the same spot. We found him on the carpet under his bed and it looked pretty dead. 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. 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention, The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. Fish laying on its side, mouth open. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. If possible it would be advisable to move the pleco to a nursing tank away from other fish. It is the most common disease in tropical fish, like plecos, and is likely caused by poor water conditions. When my pleco went nuts, the pH had dropped to 6.8 and the drop checker was very yellow. Its very uncomfortable for the plecos, and they might rub against objects in the tank in an attempt to find relief. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. 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. Here are some tips on how you can notice a sick pleco thats possibly even dying. I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. Of course, itll be prudent to try to touch the fish to see if it moves. whats wrong? Thanks, Tex Gal. If the fish isnt moving or breathing, its possible that its dead. You see, plecos are nocturnal fish that like to hide and rest during the day. A pleco might choose to remain very still and stay in the same spot all day. Its also possible that plecos will lose color when experiencing significant stress. I still don't know for sure what happened, but I'm going to blame the CO2. This disease is not contagious but should be treated or death will follow. (Possible Causes). Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. I thought the pH controller was set okay so I wasn't too worried. You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH? How big of a tank do they need? Also, theyre nocturnal fish that rest during the day. Sometimes I will catch him moving about. Plecos do not have scales and they tend to rot really fast when they die, so as was mentioned above, you. Always supply food in the presence of light to the baby fish. An oxygen deficit can be caused by a nitrite/ammonia spike, high temperatures, or a broken filter. Having more females than males also helps. My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. Supply food for the other fish during the day. It's just another misleading thing that pet stores advertise. JavaScript is disabled. As weve discussed briefly, starvation is a very common death cause of plecos. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? Bloating isn't that difficult to identify. Water parameters are good. I feed my Plec bloodworm, cichlid diet, sinking pellets, flakes and he eats algae. The cause of most of these symptoms stems from the water conditions. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. You need to feed the fish the right type of food to keep them alive and healthy. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. I have seen bottom dwelling loaches just get very pale and colorless when there is too much CO2 in the water. I had a big common pleco that lived for over 10 years in a 30 gallon tall along with. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. There are common signs and symptoms among fish diseases that show your fish is battling more than just a common sickness. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Theyre caused by one of the following things: If your pleco has a cloudy eye but acts normal, it will probably go away by itself. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. A swollen belly isnt a good sign. My Albino catfish does this all the time. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. Learn more. Paleness is certainly a distress symptom. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Many people mistakenly think that plecos dont need to be fed. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. 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. He was just hanging there out of the water not moving. If you can learn how to care for these fish properly, then they shouldnt be dying fast. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. Tank of the Month, 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. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! 5 Tips for moving into your new Home with pets, [] injured while moving. Im experienced in the fishkeeping hobby for many years. Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. Plecostomus fish, commonly called plecos, are relatively easy to take care of. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. One of our goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank and not moving. If your plecos fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fishs body. 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 he's alive and swims away why are you worried? Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. When one of us would pack it in for a while we would pass this one pleco to another person. My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. All you need to do is solve the issues that are making the fish sick. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. certain species have apparently demonstarted the ability to absorb oxygen into their blood through their stomac by swallowing it. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. He could still be in shock from the move. What does it mean when a pleco fish dies overnight? 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. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. For example, a temperature fluctuation could have killed the fish. This guy lasted about 10 years. Remember to do regular tank maintenance. Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. If the pleco doesnt respond to you moving it around but still breathes, you have to provide it will clean water as soon as possible and test your water. Whatever was wrong has seemed to be fixed as he's now behaving like normal. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. #3. Fast forward to the next day. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. Put him in the 10g quarantine tank, along with the current population (3 lemon tetras, 2 bronze cories, one oto). So I sighed, and accepted I was going to lose him. i have heard reports of them lasting quite a while out of water. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. Now he's a happy camper. I think it is just tired or not used to your tank try turning the lights off. Sick goldfish not moving but breathing/alive. The white spot on it's eye sounds like some type of fungus. Hi, my name is Sean, and Im the primary writer on the site. Malnutrition can also lead to constipation, especially when too much protein is fed. Typically, loss of color is associated with poor tank conditions. Youll be able to fix things before they get bad so that your fish will stay alive. You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. For plecos, most types need a tank thats 30 gallons in size, but there are smaller species (like bristlenose & clown plecos) that can live in a 20-gallon tank. When a pleco is not moving it can be a sign that the water has gotten too polluted or it is lacking food. My betta is laying at the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily. Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? These fish simply arent active during the day. If you want fish that are livelier during the day, youd be better off looking for a different type of fish. Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. 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. If your pleco is losing its color and slowly turning white, this might be an indication that it's either sick or dying. Check your water parameters as this is the most likely cause. My husband's pleco often does this. One of the most common questions I hear is why do my pleco likes to hide and not come out. just keep an eye on him. While in fact, there are hundreds. The signs above have a lot of things in common. You also have to keep in mind that theyre nocturnal. Regular water changes are an important part of fish tank maintenance. He may also fall sick due to anxiousness. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. 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. Monitor your fishs feeding to ensure he is eating. So i cranked it up. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. It can get habitual to the routine, and they follow the owner's hand movements. This means that this fish only comes out a. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! We have this ugly plastic reef wall thing that I want to take out that he used to hide in and we checked if he was alive and he moved to his current spot. Just as "Avaselene" has mentioned, Cories do it all the time. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. I think it may be that the paleness is a better indicator of excessive CO2 than the gasping at the top is. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. Over the past couple of days hes stayed in a little cave all day and night. 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. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. Youll want to try to touch the fish to see if it reacts at all. Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. Ich is a condition that involves the fish being infected by parasites. When capturing the fish, be sure not to grab the tail fin because this could damage it. 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). Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection.
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