TFA101

My 7 year old clown pleco, Tigre, has had a chocolate brown body and banana yellow bands for as long as I can remember. These once vibrant color seem to slowly be fading away. Is she getting ready to leave?

Coryd55

She might be getting close to the end of her days but I doubt it. Maybe I'm wrong but I think they live about 10-12 years on average.

Are your water parameters normal? Any noticeable diseases?

A picture can help us tell you if its a disease or what it is.

clinton1621

Very true on the age, but is it 7 or have you had it 7 years, perhaps it was older when you got it? Usually color fading with plecos (unless its a disease) means poor diet or ..... close to the big fish bowl in the sky, hopefully not though =(

Coryd55

Good point Clinton.

Have you had it 7 years or is it 7 years old?

tanker83

i noticed sometimes with my pleco, that he changes color....seemingly with his mood. If he is resting he is not as bright, But when he is active or swimming with the other fish he has his full colors. this is something to consider too.

TFA101

Yeah, water is good. She gets algae wafers, sinking flakes, and an occasional shrimp pellet. She's the only one in the tank though.

TFA101

no, I look at her whenever she bravely comes out of her log, and she's still pale, but she looks like she did when I first got her, except for being about 3 inches bigger. She's been with me for seven years, and I guess I got her at about two-three months old or so. She's getting lazy, doesn't like to do much. She never did, though. I dunno, the circle of life. But it will be hard to let her go. She's been through so much with me. The move from Canada to the USA, the big ICH outbreak, the red tail shark attack of 2006... But she will always be remembered as the best fish I've ever had.

Dino

Most plecos color fade as they age.
It may just be normal aging.

tanker83

whatever it is... I really hope she is okay.