!!! URGENT !!! My pleco is turning white and is lethragic

I found my pleco(common pleco) yesterday on its back slowly breathing. I managed to save it and he seemed fine the rest of the day until I noticed him on his back his belly a very light color inbetween the spots. I found him on his back again at night and again saved him but now he's lethargic and he's turning white. I recently evacuated my state and took him with me so it might be the small tank but I plan on moving him to a 10 gallon.

 

Tank size? Water parameters? Temperature?

 

Tank size? Water parameters? Temperature?

I don't have all my equipment due to me leaving my state and not wanting to leave my pleco in its tank. Due to this I brought it down to the state I am in right now in a 2.5 gallon but have been prepping a 10 gal for it to live in for the time being. Can't test water parameters because I didnt bring a test kit but generally my water is about a 8.0ph if that helps. Temperature is 78.

Tank size? Water parameters? Temperature?

He is pretty old. At the moment he is around 8 years old.

 

How big is he? He may be really stressed out having to live in a 2.5 gallon tank. I would get him moved to the bigger tank sooner rather than later

 

I don't have all my equipment due to me leaving my state and not wanting to leave my pleco in its tank. Due to this I brought it down to the state I am in right now in a 2.5 gallon but have been prepping a 10 gal for it to live in for the time being. Can't test water parameters because I didnt bring a test kit but generally my water is about a 8.0ph if that helps. Temperature is 78.

How much and how often do you do water changes?? I’d guess that it is probably stunted if it wasn’t in a larger tank before you evacuated the state.

 

How big is he? He may be really stressed out having to live in a 2.5 gallon tank. I would get him moved to the bigger tank sooner rather than later

He's around 8 inches the biggest thing I have to move him to is a 10 gal which I know it is not enough. He is generally in a 29.

How much and how often do you do water changes?? I’d guess that it is probably stunted if it wasn’t in a larger tank before you evacuated the state.

I do 25% water changes every week.

 

He's around 8 inches the biggest thing I have to move him to is a 10 gal which I know it is not enough. He is generally in a 29.

move him to the biggest container you can get. Even a big sterlite storage tote will be better than an 8 inch fish in a 2.5 gallon tank. He is stressed beyond anything a fish should be going through. Plecos colors will fade and they will most likely die when put under this much stress.

I do 25% water changes every week.

Get him out of this small container and into something much more appropriate and change out no less than 50% of the water every 2 or 3 days until you can get him a proper home. If you can't do that you may want to seriously consider finding a new home for him. I LOVE Plecos, specially commons and this one is breaking my heart.

I am not trying to be mean but you've got to know you can't keep him in these kind of conditions and not expect him to get sick and eventually die.

 

move him to the biggest container you can get. Even a big sterlite storage tote will be better than an 8 inch fish in a 2.5 gallon tank. He is stressed beyond anything a fish should be going through. Plecos colors will fade and they will most likely die when put under this much stress.

Get him out of this small container and into something much more appropriate and change out no less than 50% of the water every 2 or 3 days until you can get him a proper home. If you can't do that you may want to seriously consider finding a new home for him. I LOVE Plecos, specially commons and this one is breaking my heart.

I am not trying to be mean but you've got to know you can't keep him in these kind of conditions and not expect him to get sick and eventually die.

Generally he is in ideal conditions. I was most likely to be gone for months and I didnt just want to leave him. I have a 10 gallon that I will be housing him in. I know its not enough but all the stores are closed.

 

If he really is a common pleco than I think even the 29gal you usually keep him in is too small (someone more familiar with commons, please correct me if I'm wrong) & if he makes it past this hurdle you should really think about re-homing or getting him a larger tank :/

 

If he really is a common pleco than I think even the 29 gallon you usually keep him in is too small (someone more familiar with commons, please correct me if I'm wrong) & if he makes it past this hurdle you should really think about re-homing or getting him a larger tank :/

I agree, I wouldn’t keep one in anything less than a 75 gallon MINIMUM, although I would try to keep him in a 100 gallon or bigger in order for him to grow to full size and be happy

 

Generally he is in ideal conditions. I was most likely to be gone for months and I didnt just want to leave him. I have a 10 gallon that I will be housing him in. I know its not enough but all the stores are closed.

I do understand the situation you find yourself in but if something isn't done for him quickly I fear he will not make it. 10 gallon is far from ideal but is better than 2.5. I have huge sterlite storage containers I could easily re-purpose for temp tanks. Almost anything would be better than what he is in right now. Look around and see what you have on hand. Think outside the box and find someway to get him out of the tank he is in. If you are only chaging out 25% of the water in this tiny tank I feel sure your big guy is also being poisoned by his own waste.

I agree, I wouldn’t keep one in anything less than a 75 gallon MINIMUM, although I would try to keep him in a 100 gallon or bigger in order for him to grow to full size and be happy

I agree. When my common grew to about 7 inches in my 55 gallon tank I re-homed him to a huge koi pond.

 

Common plecos get like 2 feet. A 29 gallon is Insanely small for it. I wouldn't even put one in a 75 gallon

 

personally I would be reaching out in social media to see if anyone near by that could supply a tank or fish safe tub

 

I agree, I wouldn’t keep one in anything less than a 75 gallon MINIMUM, although I would try to keep him in a 100 gallon or bigger in order for him to grow to full size and be happy

I would if I had the room I live in a apartment