My Pleco turned white and not moving

My pleco turned white and i think he’s dead. I found him laying on the bottom of the tank below the rocks covered with a shell and a rock near him. So i moved the shell and rock and i saw this tail white then i got worried i noticed that his whole body is white even his eye (he lost his other eye on the cichlid tank) and now he hasnt moved for hours.

 

Remove the pleco from the tank. He appears dead.

What were his living conditions like?

 

Remove the pleco from the tank. He appears dead.

What were his living conditions like?

Update i found out he’s really dead. But the thing that questions me the most is that my pleco literally didnt have any organs! He is so happy in my tank he gets along with the fishes (tetras, angel fish, gouramis, platty)

 

the thing that questions me the most is that my pleco literally didnt have any organs!

You sure? Was he eaten out by the other fish?

 

You sure? Was he eaten out by the other fish?

This is actually why i am so confused. I always check my two tanks and he was still good yesterday he was actually energetic and happy. Then this morning i was looking for him and i couldnt find him (he has a hiding spot) so i just rested all day. Then a few hours later i saw his tail it was white and i moved the rock and shell and he was still moving so i observed and later on his body was all white nobody was going near the pleco

 

Please use the emergency template. I’m beginning to get curious if something strange is going on.

 

Please use the emergency template. I’m beginning to get curious if something strange is going on

Its really weird i threw his body out and no one is really sus. Last time my glofish died the next day after i put it in the tank. I think the angel fish bullied him but its so unlikely to happen

 

Well, I’m not sure what could be going on without more information.

Are you acclimating these fish? What are the parameters?

 

I acclimate them for about 5-10 mins just to make sure they be comfy with the temperature. I did it with the pleco as well.

 

I acclimate them for about 5-10 mins just to make sure they be comfy with the temperature. I did it with the pleco as well.

That’s not enough time. I usually temp acclimate for 20min, add a cup of the tank water, and add the fish 10 minutes later. Without adding tank water slowly, the fish might be shocked by parameter changes such as PH changes, which can kill them.

Also, please fill out the emergency template when you can. It will help us help you massively.
Aquatic Emergency Template | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 376562

 

That’s not enough time. I usually temp acclimate for 20min, add a cup of the tank water, and add the fish 10 minutes later. Without adding tank water slowly, the fish might be shocked by parameter changes such as PH changes, which can kill them.

Also, please fill out the emergency template when you can. It will help us help you massively.
Aquatic Emergency Template | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 376562

But my pleco lived more than 2 months on my tank

 

But my pleco lived more than 2 months on my tank

It’s definitely not that, then, but it’s still a good precaution to take. Sometimes fish just die. Sorry for your loss.

 

It’s definitely not that, then, but it’s still a good precaution to take. Sometimes fish just die. Sorry for your loss.

Thanks tho i really got sad it was my first pleco i even bought algae flakes for him coz he cleans my tank a lot. Thank u guys

 

But my pleco lived more than 2 months on my tank

Meanwhile plecos, depending on the species, can live for 10-25 years on average.

i even bought algae flakes for him coz he cleans my tank a lot.

Plecos do not clean the tank and shouldn’t be purchased for this purpose. How often were you feeding the pleco, and did you occasionally add veggies for him to eat? Was there any driftwood?

Depending on the species, the algae wafers might not’ve provided the correct diet, as some species of pleco are more on the carnivorous side. Do you know which species you had?

 

I did yes. I take care of him a lot coz ofc he is my first pleco. I didnt use him for just cleaning my tank. I just noticed he did that coz all of those were algae. I feed him like the lettuce coz i searched it up on what to feed him. I bought the flakes as emergency incase we ran out of veggies. Theres two small driftwoods. I feed him twice a week. I have the common pleco one. He was healthy. The only confusion was why was his organs not on his body when i took him out.

 

Common plecos can grow to a foot and a half in length in their first few years. They're omnivorous, but do require these wafers and veggies in their diet. Lettuce however isn't nutritionally substantial for plecos. You should be feeding more often than twice a week.

Anyways, I'm still curious if there was a water parameter problem. Acclimation wasn't for long enough.

 

I did yes. I take care of him a lot. I didnt use him for just cleaning my tank. I just noticed he did that coz all of those were algae. I feed him like the leafy veggies coz i searched it up on what to feed him. I bought the flakes as emergency incase we ran out of veggies. Theres two small driftwoods.

Common plecos can grow to a foot and a half in length in their first few years. They're omnivorous, but do require these wafers and veggies in their diet. Lettuce however isn't nutritionally substantial for plecos. You should be feeding more often than twice a week.

Anyways, I'm still curious if there was a water parameter problem. Acclimation wasn't for long enough.

The acclimation wasnt a problem becoz he lived two months in the tank the ammonia levels are okay the ph levels too i check it a lot all three tanks.

 

What is the pH?

Can you get up the exact readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

He lived for two months. Common plecos live for at least 10 years. He lived a very short life in your tank.

 

I did yes. I take care of him a lot. I didnt use him for just cleaning my tank. I just noticed he did that coz all of those were algae. I feed him like the leafy veggies coz i searched it up on what to feed him. I bought the flakes as emergency incase we ran out of veggies. Theres two small driftwoods.

What is the pH?

Can you get up the exact readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

He lived for two months. Common plecos live for at least 10 years. He lived a very short life in your tank.

Ph = 7.2
Ammonia = 0.5
Nitrate = 20
Nitrite = 12

I also did 15% water change right after i took my pleco out coz i dont know if its right

 

Ph = 7.2
Ammonia = 0.5
Nitrate = 20
Nitrite = 12

I also did 15% water change right after i took my pleco out coz i dont know if its right

Ok, these readings are really not good. Any amount of ammonia or nitrite is toxic. 20mg/L of nitrate is fine though.

The pH is also fine.

15% water changes aren’t cutting it. Closer to 50% would have more of a positive effect.

Given the readings, you’re going through a fish-in cycle.

 

Ok, these readings are really not good. Any amount of ammonia or nitrite is toxic. 20mg/L of nitrate is fine though.

The pH is also fine.

15% water changes aren’t cutting it. Closer to 50% would have more of a positive effect.

Given the readings, you’re going through a fish-in cycle.

But ever since i started this fish hobby none of my fishes had died. None even frys that i take care of. The only concern i have is why my pleco didnt have his organs when i removed him from the tank