Upset Pleco

I have a delima. I have a 15inch Pleco that I have had for about 3 years now. He has been with Goldfish since I got him. Recently the Goldfish have passed leaving him alone. I have recently redone the tank, new gravel, new decorations, and a canaster filter and now all he does is hide. He used to swim around, flare his fins and attach to the side of the tank when the Goldfish were alive. I wanted to wait to get more fish. I can't decide what to get that won't pick on him. I don't want any that are aggressive toward him. After all he has survived me and I want him to enjoy himself. Should I worry that he is hiding all the time. I have checked the water and it is good. Or at least I think for a Pleco. Could he just be lonely.

 

What are your water parameters? Do you test for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates?

If you replaced all of the gravel at once it might have upset your cycle as beneficial bacteria likes to cultivate in the substrate.

 

I’m pretty sure you could of just completly restarted the cycling process

 

Water parameters are good.

 

What does "good" mean to you?

What are your levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

 

According to the test strips.
Nitrite 7.5
Nitrate 8
Ammonia 3

 

Omg you’re going to kill you’re fish... you NEED an ammonia and nitrate of 0 and nitrite of hopefully around 2ish. while they might SURVIVE above that, it will be awful for the fish. Do water changes and maybe try to find some of the gravel from the old tank and throw it in the canister filter...

and please get some prime in there

 

Omg you’re going to kill you’re fish... you NEED an ammonia and nitrate of 0 and nitrite of hopefully around 2ish. while they might SURVIVE above that, it will be awful for the fish. Do water changes and maybe try to find some of the gravel from the old tank and throw it in the canister filter...

I hope you mean nitrite of 0 and nitrates trace and a bit more is fine, I like to keep mine well below 5ppm but I’ve heard of people running tanks for years with 10/20ppm lol and have happy fish (that’s debatable?) that haven’t died. Your defo right about starting the cycle again, that’s what I’d say is probably happening. To much change at one time will shock the tank and the inhabitants. I see there has been no reply from owner of this thread lately? I’d be interested to see how his tank is getting on now. Hope everything is fine.

 

According to the test strips.
Nitrite 7.5
Nitrate 8
Ammonia 3

I am going to be pretty blunt here. He isn't lonely, he is being poisoned. Those numbers are going to kill your water pet. I am not sure what you meant when you said "I have checked the water and it is good. Or at least I think for a Pleco" A pleco is no different than any other fish. Ammonia and nitrites will kill a pleco just as quick as any other fish.

By changing out so many things I have to think you removed all the bacteria if there was any in there to begin with. You said all your goldfish died. If you had these numbers while they were in there you have your answer as to why they are now dead.

How often were you doing water changes? You need to start doing them now and keep doing them until you get the ammonia and nitrites down to zero. If you don't already have it get a bottle of Seachem Prime. Once you get and keep the ammonia and nitrites down as close to zero as possible the Prime will detox what he is constantly producing for up to 48 hours.

Keep both of those numbers down with water changes until enough bacteria grows on your filter media to start taking care of the ammonia he is constantly producing.

BTW: What size is this tank? A common pleco needs a huge tank since they have been known to grow up to 18 to 24 inches.

 

I hope you mean nitrite of 0 and nitrates trace and a bit more is fine, I like to keep mine well below 5ppm but I’ve heard of people running tanks for years with 10/20ppm lol and have happy fish (that’s debatable?) that haven’t died. Your defo right about starting the cycle again, that’s what I’d say is probably happening. To much change at one time will shock the tank and the inhabitants. I see there has been no reply from owner of this thread lately? I’d be interested to see how his tank is getting on now. Hope everything is fine.

ah yes of course. I still get them mixed up... even after all these years. Thank you for the correction

 

This sounds like the recipe for a total disaster

You mentioned having the fish for around 3 years and until recently all was fine but then your goldies died leaving your Pleco.....you have not stated your aquarium size or why you decided that the old gravel etc was replaced (thus breaking your cycle)

Before you lost the goldies...what routine maintenance did you carry out, how often and when did you test the water?

What changed to cause your fish to die? were you away for a couple weeks or maybe a month?

I find it very hard to equate that your fish were all fine for 3 years and then suddenly they aren't and you have such incredibly bad and unhealthy water test results

It simply does not sit right because water doesn't generally deteriorate to that extent overnight....did you lose interest perhaps, get bored with the maintenance routine, just don't have the time or motivation?

As for your surviving Pleco.....if it has not died by now, then I am afraid that it soon will with that lack of water quality & care

Fishkeeping is a responsibility, it is time consuming and it can be emotionally draining and some do lose the love for their fish......but something does NOT sit right with what we are being told and we need to know what has been going on and why you feel that your water quality was "good" when it is so clearly anything but "good"

I apologise if I seem harsh but we see this all too often and more often than not we only get part of the picture......and you haven't given the full story here by any stretch of the imagination

 

ah yes of course. I still get them mixed up... even after all these years. Thank you for the correction

Haha that’s fine, I knew what you meant but maybe the owner of this thread might not have which wouldn’t be good!!! Lol. Mattgirl is right, the reason said pleco is probably not dead yet is he is a lot harder than the goldfish but with those numbers is probably dying a long slow painful death i’m afraid. No offence to the pleco owner but you really need to do your research and keep on top of things. What’s the point in having/keeping all these lovely fish and not being able to look after them to the best of your ability? He’s come on here seeking advice which is one good thing and shows he’s concerned and we should help him not slate him. I just hope there’s time for the pleco and he learns a few things from us.

This sounds like the recipe for a total disaster

You mentioned having the fish for around 3 years and until recently all was fine but then your goldies died leaving your Pleco.....you have not stated your aquarium size or why you decided that the old gravel etc was replaced (thus breaking your cycle)

Before you lost the goldies...what routine maintenance did you carry out, how often and when did you test the water?

What changed to cause your fish to die? were you away for a couple weeks or maybe a month?

I find it very hard to equate that your fish were all fine for 3 years and then suddenly they aren't and you have such incredibly bad and unhealthy water test results

It simply does not sit right because water doesn't generally deteriorate to that extent overnight....did you lose interest perhaps, get bored with the maintenance routine, just don't have the time or motivation?

As for your surviving Pleco.....if it has not died by now, then I am afraid that it soon will with that lack of water quality & care

Fishkeeping is a responsibility, it is time consuming and it can be emotionally draining and some do lose the love for their fish......but something does NOT sit right with what we are being told and we need to know what has been going on and why you feel that your water quality was "good" when it is so clearly anything but "good"

I apologise if I seem harsh but we see this all too often and more often than not we only get part of the picture......and you haven't given the full story here by any stretch of the imagination

Couldn’t have put it any better myself, nice post

 

Haha that’s fine, I knew what you meant but maybe the owner of this thread might not have which wouldn’t be good!!! Lol. Mattgirl is right, the reason said pleco is probably not dead yet is he is a lot harder than the goldfish but with those numbers is probably dying a long slow painful death i’m afraid. No offence to the pleco owner but you really need to do your research and keep on top of things. What’s the point in having/keeping all these lovely fish and not being able to look after them to the best of your ability? He’s come on here seeking advice which is one good thing and shows he’s concerned and we should help him not slate him. I just hope there’s time for the pleco and he learns a few things from us.


Couldn’t have put it any better myself, nice post

While I agree with everything said 100%, jt seems more like a lake of knowledge then like he’s trying to give the fish the bare minimum. All we can hope now is the reader take this advice and improves for the future