Pleco Dying

I've had my Pleco for 4 1/2 years. I was told by the store he would only get to be two inches long but of course I learned the hard way that is not true. Even though I love hime dearly, I have recently been searching for someone with a larger tank to give him to since mine is only 20 gallons and I have no room or money for another tank. However, while out of town this week, my niece was taking care of him. She wrote me an email and said he was depressed and missed me. When I got home he was fairly sluggish. I also noticed he was not pooping normal. (I think she might have overfed him. My routine has been in the morning I give fish flakes (there are three small neon tetras in the tank), early evening more flakes and an algae wafer for him and then before bed a "treat" for him such as tubifex worms (his favorite), krill, etc. He has never liked veges. ) Yesterday he took a turn for the worse so I went online to get some advice. I put epsom salt in the water as a muscle relaxant in case he was constipated. He got even worse in the afternoon - laying on his side, not moving. Today he is the same, plus now has not eaten for two days. What should I do? Should I try to feed him? I do not want to prolong his suffering. It is so hard to watch. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Welcome to Fish Lore
I moved your question to a thread of it's own where it should get more responses.

I'm sorry about your pleco.
Does he looked bloated, that's usually a sign of constipation.
If you think he's been over fed, you can try fasting him for a day or so.
Then see if he'll eat a few bits of frozen shelled pea cut up to about the size of his eye or you can try some freeze dried daphnia to get things moving, if that's what it is.

I'm pretty sure salt isn't good for plecos, don't know of that holds true for epsom salt.

What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Over feeding can cause spikes in your readings which could effect your fish.


Good luck, 4 1/2 years is a long time to have a fish and we got so attached.

 

welcome to fishlore!!!!! I'm sorry about your plec being sick

first thing I would do is a large 50% water change as plecs and salt do not do well at all...have you tested the tank for ammonia? a plec in that size tank is huge waste and if your neice overfed, that would make it more dirty also if you can find either prime, ammo lock, or amquel+ that will help him feel better and detoxify any ammonia / nitrites for 24 hours ...testing is a must to make sure the tank stayed cycled...good luck and I hope he gets better!

 

The readings were fine but I did a 50% water change as suggested and put in Amquel+. He isn't bloated so I don't think it is constipation. He is still laying on his side. I ground algae wafers in tank water and used a turkey baster to get it near his mouth. However, as the particles get near his mouth he is "blowing" them away, i.e., none is getting into him. I tried the peas yesterday but he didn't touch them. Is there anything else I can do? It is so hard to watch him suffer. I feel helpless and sad.

 

when you say "fine" on the readings, can you post them? what test kit do you use? are you still using stress zyme? water changes with the amquel+ will do for now...without physical signs of an illness, we have to go on the water or something to that lines...water changes are always a bonus and won't hurt anything

 

Sorry for not being more specific. I use the test strips and they are as follows: ammonia 0, nitrate 20, nitrite 0, hardness 300, chlorine 0, alkalinity 80-120, and pH 6.0. On the latter, I have never been able to keep the pH level higher as the pleco got bigger. Since he was doing fine, I was told not to worry about it. Same thing with the water hardness level. I would say these tank readings have been fairly constant for the past few years. The three neon tetras in the tank are doing fine.

Thanks so much to all for your help. I truly appreciate it.

 

Forgot to mention that yes, I still use stress zyme. Is that appropriate? I hope so.

 

Update: I was gone from my house for about five hours. When I came back and opened the door, I could smell rotten eggs. The smell is coming from the tank. Also, my three tetras are now dead. New test results show the nitrite level went up to .5. What happened? What do I do now besides pull out the three little corpes? The pleco is pretty much in the same condition. I'm baffled and frustrated to say the least!

 

OH NO!! I'm so sorry for the loss of your fish

what brand of test strips are you using? MOST do not have an ammonia reading on them and I'm curious...stress zyme is something that will not let the tank properly cycle...test strips are very unreliable and don't give very accurate readings...at this point, without a reliable test kit, (apI liquid master kit is amazing and has everything you need) see if you can find either prime, amquel+ or ammo lock in your area...you need daily water changes with one of those(stop using stress zyme) because of the nitrite but I also think its ammonia... if you can find one of those 3, it will detox the nitrites and ammonia for 24 hours until your next water change...

 

I'm really sorry about your tetras.
Did you say you were using the strips to test? They can be pretty inaccurate. It would be good to know what the reading is on a good liquid test kits.

The smell could be from the tetras or, and I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong here, there are gasses than can collect under decorations and substrate if it's not properly aerated. If you've been doing regular gravels vacs, that's usually enough to prevent this build up. However, if you have not, and it escapes it can give a rotten egg smell and be enough to harm your fish.

 

I do have a test strip for ammonia. I tested again early evening and the nitrite level went down to 0 and ammonia went up to .5. However, I went out later and bought the API test kit as recommended. According to the API test, ammonia is between .5-1.0 and nitrites 0. So pretty much the same results.

The rotten egg smell did not occur until I put the Amquel+ in the tank and I don't think the tetras were dead long enough to cause such a problem. My tank is properly aerated and I clean the gravel, decorations, etc. every 10-14 days.

Tomorrow morning I plan to do a 25% water change. Any advice on whether I should use the Amquel+ again or switch to Ammo-Lock? I bought the latter just in case it was better to use for this situation.

Pleco is still in bad shape. Very sad day but I truly appreciate everyone's advice. I'm glad I found this site and hope I can one day give back to all of you.

 

I haven't used it, but have only heard good things about Amquel+.
By any chance have you smelled it right out of the bottle? Could that have been the odor?
With any ammonia reading it would be a good idea to change the water daily until you get the cycle back.
What's your nitrate reading? (Something worth mentioning about the #2 nitrite bottle. It contains crystals, unlike the other bottles. In order to get an accurate reading you have to shake the heck out of it and bang it on a table a few times to get it mixed properly).

I know it's upsetting when something is wrong with your fish but just can't figure out what to do for it.

 

Checked the levels this morning. Ammonia .5, nitrite .25, nitrate 60, chlorine 0, pH 6.2. Did a partial water change and added Amquel+. Pleco is on his back this morning, still gulping hard, especially when he sees me. Wish I knew what else to do for him.

 

Gosh, I'm so sorry he's doing so poorly. :-\
Your levels are pretty out of whack. A series of water changes today is about all you can do.
As you know ammonia and nitrite are toxic, but so are high nitrates.

 

Pleco seems to be doing a little better today, although the water problems remain - ammonia .5, nitrite went up to .5, nitrate 60, chlorine 0, pH 6.2. Did another partial water change and will see how it goes today. I decided to work at home so I could continue to monitor him. I'm lucky to have a job that lets me do so.

 

I would keep doing water changes to lower ammonia nitrite and nitrate

 

Within the past 6 weeks 3 of my plecos have died. I am not sure what age they were as they were quite large when I got them. They have been in the aquarium for the past 8 years and had grown to be around 12 to 14".
My concern is I have 3 smaller plecos left in the aquarium.
The tank is approx 240 gallon with a sump tank of 50 gallons. It has a continious water exchange and I just checked the parameters 0 nitrites and a safe level of nitrates (very little).
My concern is 3 dying simultaniously. It could be age as they have been with me for 8 years or should I be concerned that something is killing just the plecos? I have a variety of Cichlids in the tank that all seem to be healthy.

 

Was their any signs on their body's hinting towards disease or injury. You checked nitrite and nitrate but what's the ammonia? What were these plecos acting like before they died?

 

Ammonia level 0 no sign of disease. Acting normal.

 

What about the ammonia?

What kind of plecos and what kind of cichlids?

 

The plecos that died were Hypostomus Plectostomus (common plecos).
The ammonia level reads 0.
Cichlids I have currently are South American and 6 African.

 

You have some stocking issues with the cichlids, and it's possible there might be aggression issues. African rift lake cichlids should not be mixed with non-rift lake cichlids.

What do you feed them?

 

These cichlids have co existed for over 8 years with little aggression. They have a combination of algae, cichlid pellets, veggie and brine shrimp.
I appreciate your concern but where is this going regarding the plecos?

 

These cichlids have co existed for over 8 years with little aggression. They have a combination of algae, cichlid pellets, veggie and brine shrimp.
I appreciate your concern but where is this going regarding the plecos?

Little aggression?

I'm thinking you got lucky for 8 years lol

 

I have been a cichlid keeper for about 10 years and have only had one major incident with two Jack Dempseys. As it turned out one was blind and the other consistantly attacked. I separated them and hand fed the blind one until it got too big and would bite while taking the food. Used to feed it with chop sticks. It passed this summer. I have very little aggression between south american and african and the territorial aggression is mostly between the peacocks. Most of the time the aquarium is pretty laid back.

 

There are large differences in diet and water parameter needs between rift lake and South American cichlids. It's really not a smart idea to keep them together. The fact that it has worked for you is an exception, not the norm. It could still turn badly.

The cichlids could be attacking the plecos, even if you haven't seen aggression before.

What do you feed the plecos? What's your exact level of nitrates?

 

Just checked nitrates are 0. The aquarium has a continuous water change. I have a tank divider for African and South American Cichlids the plecos are on both sides of the fence.
Their food consists of HikarI Algea Wafers, pleco flakes, shrimp and peas. The flakes are a mixture of fruits and veggies etc I would have to read the ingredients.

 

The fact that all 3 died very close to each other makes me think it's either aggression from the cichlids (territory, as both like caves) or illness introduced when you added the new 3 plecos.

 

I guess it's not easy to actually figure out what happened. The other plecos look and are acting healthy so I will wait and see....
Thx for everyones help

 

Most likely aggression between your plecos. Large commons don't get along. I had 3 together and the dominant one has killed the other 2 over the last year by stressing them into not feeding well. Only the largest and most aggressive of cichlids is a threat to a large common pleco. Are your other plecos feeding well and what are you feeding them?

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. These fish are normally so reliable it is very worrying to hear of three dying at more or less the same time. It is so unusual. There isn't normally anything they suffer from that you would not notice.

 

I have a tank divider that had separated two plecos from the other. The two on one side were male & female and were tied at each others hip for the past 6 years. They both have died. The other pleco was on the opposite side of the divider with two smaller plecos not common like the other two. So it is possible but I am not sure if that's what happened.

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. These fish are normally so reliable it is very worrying to hear of three dying at more or less the same time. It is so unusual. There isn't normally anything they suffer from that you would not notice.

I have not noticed anything unusual.
I have a tank divider that had separated two plecos from the other. The two on one side were male & female and were tied at each others hip for the past 6 years. They both have died. The other pleco was on the opposite side of the divider with two smaller plecos not common like the other two. So it did worry me that all three went within 6 weeks of each other.
I am going to keep an eye on the ones that are alive and see what happens.

 

It could be internal parasites, there not that many symptoms to those and the ones that are there can be hard to notice.

 

It could be internal parasites, there not that many symptoms to those and the ones that are there can be hard to notice.

That is possible.....

 

Have you seen any of your fish having white or clear stringy poop? If so, your fish could have internal parasites as that is one of the symptoms.

 

HI Guys,

So I have a 29 gallon tank. In January I got a betta fish (BlueBlue) and in February I got a clown pleco. I have been cleaning the tank by doing water changes every 2 weeks. I use stress coat from API and whenever I need to,I use the ph up, never had a problem. So one day I read that plecos need driftwood, so I got two pieces of driftwood in the tank. After that I started getting brown algae, and no matter how many water changes I did... still coming back.. and fast. Well, my dumb self decided that I was going to replace the gravel and do a complete cleaning of the tank. Went to petsmart and bought new gravel (colored one) pink, blue, purple and green.Also, I got something call “ceramic rings? Fluval brand.. first time using it. Well, this morning I woke up with my betta fish dead in the bottom of the tank and my pleco has something white covering its eyes, he is not eating and doesn’t seem to be acting normal and his belly looks kind of big. Also, not sure if its the dye of the gravel, but it looks like it has some red on its fins? I'm sorry for the long post , but I'm very upset and not sure what else to do. I feel so guilty. Including pics.

 

So you completely got rid of your old filter media? That would mean you have to cycle the tank again, and you probably have ammonia and nitrites that killed the betta. I'm not sure what could be causing the red fins on your pleco, but it could be mild ammonia burns

 

So you completely got rid of your old filter media? That would mean you have to cycle the tank again, and you probably have ammonia and nitrites that killed the betta. I'm not sure what could be causing the red fins on your pleco, but it could be mild ammonia burns

I did . They test the water in PetSmart and they said it was okay, but not sure if they check the ammonia levels. I didn’t know they can get ammonia burns, I feel terrible.

 

do you have an API Freshwater Master Test kit to test the water parameters?

what filter are you using? if you threw away the old filter media while adding the new ceramic rings, you lost most of your beneficial bacteria.

you also lost some beneficial bacteria that was living in the substrate when you changed the gravel. did you rinse out the gravel?

you should start doing daily 50% water changes until you get the tank cycled. Seachem Prime is a life saver when doing fish in cycle.

 

Do you have anything to test your water with? How long after the betta died did you have them test the water, and did you do a water change before taking a sample?
I see on your profile it says you aren't familiar with cycling, click these blue words: nitrogen cycle
I can clarify anything you're unsure about after you read it

 

do you have an API Freshwater Master Test kit to test the water parameters?

what filter are you using? if you threw away the old filter media while adding the new ceramic rings, you lost most of your beneficial bacteria.

you also lost some beneficial bacteria that was living in the substrate when you changed the gravel. did you rinse out the gravel?

you should start doing daily 50% water changes until you get the tank cycled. Seachem Prime is a life saver when doing fish in cycle.

I did rinse it out, and I replaced the filter also (I know so stupid of me) I bought something called “bacteria starter?”, but I will look for the Seachem prime tomorrow and do the water changes. Also, I do not have the master test kit, I only have the regular one. It tests 5 different things, but I am not sure if that’s enough?

 

As long as you can test for Nitrates (NO3) Nitrites (NO2) and ammonia (NH3) You're set for now. (I added the chemical compounds because I don't remember what the chart you have says)
I'm pretty yours tests for all 3 of those, PH, and GH or KH

 

Do you have anything to test your water with? How long after the betta died did you have them test the water, and did you do a water change before taking a sample?
I see on your profile it says you aren't familiar with cycling, click these blue words: nitrogen cycle
I can clarify anything you're unsure about after you read it

Yes, I ran out of the strips so I couldn’t test the water after I changed it, so after I found the betta dead ; I went to Petsmart right away, but he died overnight. They told me water was okay. I did not do a water change before the taking the sample. Thank you I going to read it right now.

As long as you can test for Nitrates (NO3) Nitrites (NO2) and ammonia (NH3) You're set for now. (I added the chemical compounds because I don't remember what the chart you have says)
I'm pretty yours tests for all 3 of those, PH, and GH or KH

Not sure if you can see it, but I just tested it. Those are the strips I use.

 

Sorry to hear about the Betta. It's going to be some work to keep the Pleco alive just judging from his appearance, I wish you the best with that.
Hopefully frequent fresh water changes will pull him thru whatever is ailing him. It sounds like you're pretty much starting over with a fish-in cycle and that can take a good bit of time. Don't try to change much, if anything in the meantime is my only suggestion. Just keep up with the water changes adding the Prime each time you do one.

 

Not sure if you can see it, but I just tested it. Those are the strips I use.

Ok, yours doesn't test for ammonia, and since there are no nitrites or nitrates in the tank, I'm going to assume there's some ammonia

 

Ok, yours doesn't test for ammonia, and since there are no nitrites or nitrates in the tank, I'm going to assume there's some ammonia

Poor Pleco he must be suffering in there. I will keep doing the water changes and I am getting the master kit to test the ammonia. It sucks. I shouldn’t have changed the water. I hope it works.

Sorry to hear about the Betta. It's going to be some work to keep the Pleco alive just judging from his appearance, I wish you the best with that.
Hopefully frequent fresh water changes will pull him thru whatever is ailing him. It sounds like you're pretty much starting over with a fish-in cycle and that can take a good bit of time. Don't try to change much, if anything in the meantime is my only suggestion. Just keep up with the water changes adding the Prime each time you do one.

Yes, I will be doing the water changes and getting the prime and master kit. I hope he survives. Thank you so much!

 

Poor Pleco he must be suffering in there. I will keep doing the water changes and I am getting the master kit to test the ammonia. It sucks. I shouldn’t have changed the water. I hope it works.

Once you get the master test kit, test your water immediately because if there is ammonia in your tank (which I’d assume based on everything that’s happened) there’s probably quite a bit of it since it killed your Betta. Since you want to keep your ammonia as low as possible (talking 0.25 ppm or lower) you’ll want to do mass water changes. I just finished a fish in cycle after losing lots of fish to ammonia too plecos are really hardy which is good but you definitely want to start on it right away. Let me know if you have any questions about the cycle! I’m happy to help

 

Once you get the master test kit, test your water immediately because if there is ammonia in your tank (which I’d assume based on everything that’s happened) there’s probably quite a bit of it since it killed your Betta. Since you want to keep your ammonia as low as possible (talking 0.25 ppm or lower) you’ll want to do mass water changes. I just finished a fish in cycle after losing lots of fish to ammonia too plecos are really hardy which is good but you definitely want to start on it right away. Let me know if you have any questions about the cycle! I’m happy to help

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it. I'm sorry about your fish So sad!!
I know I should only be doing water changes and prime, but what do you think of “ammonia buffer?” does that work?I read it works to remove it faster lol Or I shouldn’t even try it?

 

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it. I'm sorry about your fish So sad!!
I know I should only be doing water changes and prime, but what do you think of “ammonia buffer?” does that work?I read it works to remove it faster lol Or I shouldn’t even try it?

I honestly didn’t use any chemicals other than treating my water with prime. The very first day I did a water change of 80% and the next day when I tested, my ammonia was still pretty high so I just kept doing 80% water changes everyday until it was cycled. It was a very tiresome process after about a week but I haven’t lost any other fish since that first mass water change. Is your pleco the only fish in your tank right now?