Fixing constipation issues will be easy. Typically, loss of color is associated with poor tank conditions. My Albino catfish does this all the time. When the water quality is poor, itll weaken the immune system of the plecos. He was struggling really hard, and ended up tipping upside-down, fighting his way up to the surface, and all kinds of things. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. Wouldn't the fish survive for at least a few days even if it was suffering from a disease? I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. Infections can be remedied by giving the fish medications. This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. If your plecos fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fishs body. This way, you can manage them and check for potential diseases. When I first set up my pressurized co2 system I was gassing my fish out. Barely breathing! Now that weve gone over signs your pleco is dying, the most likely causes and solutions, its time to prevent it from happening in the future. Theyre shy and somewhat reclusive and are usually content to hide in the corners of a tank. Its wise to isolate the fish during the treatment process by setting up a quarantine tank. Fish can only tolerate 5% water changes every couple of hours, so make sure that you leave enough time between water changes so that your fish does not go into shock. Moving forward, it should be easier to look out for problems with the fish. Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. Do not . Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Mine is also out at night. They will hide, or just freeze like a rock if they think they are in danger or are freaking out. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. I think you can see him in my signature pic. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? He is starting to show his age but. The white spot on it's eye sounds like some type of fungus. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. Ketchup_Turkey 4 yr. ago. Molly lying on side on bottom of tank, moving very little. Infections can be treated by isolating the sick fish and consulting your vet to determine the proper treatment. A filter is a must. You also have to keep in mind that theyre nocturnal. They like to hide normally so he is quite happy. White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. If you want your plecostomus to be more active, one suggestion is to provide it with live plants and driftwood to use as hiding spots, feed it live insects and invertebrates, and offer it a variety of tank mates. Therefore, it is important to notice your fishs behaviors when they become sick. If this is the case do a 25% water change as soon as possible. However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. He is just sitting on the bottom of the tank not moving or trying to eat anything. Surprisingly, common plecos aren't meant for most home aquariums. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. He also has a white spot on his eye. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. The assumption is that plecos will simply eat the algae in the tank. It could be related to water quality, malnutrition, or even other things in the tank that are causing the fish stress. They should be living for a very long time under your care. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. Once mouth and gills are open, you'll need to resuscitate the fish by flushing water over the gills and there are a few ways of doing this. lol. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. This gave me false readings that my water had hardly any co2 in it. Do you notice your pleco has no clear eyes, but a white milk-like color? Ouwch. Problems such as fin rot and pop eye can be dealt with so that the fish can get better. Disease can make fish sluggish and it can also cause them to stop eating. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? (+ 11 Ways To Stop Your Pleco From Eating Plants), Breeding Bristlenose Plecos (With Pictures), Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? Put the torch on dim and slowly turn it up and the Plec is there. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. If you notice your pleco is breathing rapidly or gulping at the surface, its most likely because of an oxygen deficit. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. This means that this fish only comes out a. Why is my fish laying on its side at the bottom? Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. You might even be concerned that the plecos are dying if things are going particularly bad. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. Perhaps the heater stopped working and the water temperature dipped far too low. Sorry your pleco is ill. every day I feed the fish in my school aquarium and I've notice the pleco doesn't ever move. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. There are over 100 species of plecos, so it is essential to do your research to learn the best source of nutrition for your pleco species. Fish are fascinating creatures, and although some are easy to take care of, that doesnt eliminate the possibility of them developing a sickness. Ich can be treated by using medication that will get rid of the infection. Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. If your fish is stressed, you may notice the loss of color in addition to the loss of appetite and abnormal swimming behaviors. Now he's a happy camper. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are three crucial parts of the nitrogen cycle of aquariums. Vicki, I think it was the CO2 as well. For plecos, most types need a tank thats 30 gallons in size, but there are smaller species (like bristlenose & clown plecos) that can live in a 20-gallon tank. You can feed the fish foods that are high in fiber to clear it up. He is still alive. Im not sure if somethings wrong or not. A healthy probably pregnant bristlenose pleco female. Vote. Then the water got cloudy and that is when they started breathing heavy. Unfortunately, this is not true. If not he likely is moving when you are not around, most pleco are very shy (without a ton of hiding places and a shyer personality can make the pleco even more reclusive), some species are worse for being out and about than others. Theres nothing wrong with a pleco than has a rounded belly (its in fact healthy) but if it looks bloated, this is bad. I found a great deal on a queen arabesque pleco this week, so it's at home now. Are its gills moving or does it appear to be motionless? While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. Its also possible that nothing is wrong at all. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. Put him in the 10g quarantine tank, along with the current population (3 lemon tetras, 2 bronze cories, one oto). Clean your fish tank. Stress. Remember to do regular tank maintenance. He was just hanging there out of the water not moving. JavaScript is disabled. Fish laying on its side, mouth open. Plecos are notoriously difficult to remove from a tank, its not uncommon for people to spend hours trying to find the perfect device or method to catch this fish. Make sure to ask your fish store whether they have quarantined the fish already. Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. Im blogging mostly about freshwater and saltwater aquariums, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Good Luck. I like your, I found it interesting when you explained how you'd bond with your pet snake and improve recognition. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. I think it may be that the paleness is a better indicator of excessive CO2 than the gasping at the top is. He could still be in shock from the move. When you dont treat this disease, it can cause the fish to lose vision or even lose the eye. Sick goldfish not moving but breathing/alive. Sometimes plecos that can't breathe well will float near the surface of the water. Knowing what signs to look out for might allow you to turn things around before its too late. In some cases, it might even be as extreme as males killing each other. Hello guys, thx for your answer and sry for my late reply. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. If you can learn how to care for these fish properly, then they shouldnt be dying fast. When a pleco is not moving it can be a sign that the water has gotten too polluted or it is lacking food. If your pleco is breathing more rapidly, it can be because of various reasons: Make sure to test your water parameters for a nitrite/ammonia spike as this extracts oxygen. Look at the fish closely and try to see if its gills are moving. Now the tank is in pretty bad shape (were working on it!) So I just went to put food in the fish tank. There might not be anything wrong at all. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. This can happen to any fish if it does not have . Infections are usually caused by the various bacteria and parasites that may be present in the tank. The pleco has stayed motionless in the same spot and position for a few weeks and I started wondering if it was dead so this morning I took a net and stuck it near him and he freaked out, swam around and went back to the same spot. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? Weve touched a little on improving the tank setup for your pleco catfish. If they are desperate enough, they will turn upside down in their search for food at the surface. Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. While in fact, there are hundreds. They take a full breath, in and out, about 6 times a second. Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. Cloudy eyes will be a sign that the fish is being kept in bad water. If the fish isnt moving or breathing, its possible that its dead. Fish tank Pet fish Pet Animals and Pets. Plecos are often misunderstood because they dont like to be shown off, which makes sense given their wild origins. Also, does he have any places to hide? I doubt this is the issue, but my pleco was acting odd, curving and swimming like he was intoxicated flying from one side to the other, no CO2, regular parameters, but I checked the temperature, like yours mine was breathing up a storm, but I raised the temp 4 degrees up and he was fine my temp dropped to 72, and he was going bananas, but after about 20 minutes I guess he caught a warm front and hugged the heater damn near. Just a thought Sayuz. What can I do? You might not be feeding them enough either. My male sits in his cave or in front of it to attract the ladies. Home > Plecos > Care > 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It]. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! The water might be dirty or the parameters could be way off of what they should be. Taking care of baby plecos can be challenging in some ways. They are seriously chill dudes lol. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. Many things can cause stress such as poor water conditions, overcrowded fish tanks, and incompatible tank mates. If you cant see the gills moving, this suggests that the fish is truly dead. Your fish may be suffering from ich if their skin appears to have white dots that look like salt or sugar flakes. Plecos live in environments with temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. 1 - Loss of Color. It can take a few days for him to convinced one to lay eggs for him then he sits in the cave and fans them. Both eyes will appear to protrude if there is an infection present. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. There are various products that might treat it but as for your best option on products I don't know. I love my animals. If you dont already have some in your tank, consider putting in some real. Having more females than males also helps. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. You really dont want to end up with a whole tank of death fish because you put in one sick fish. However, a stressed pleco catfish can be recognized by a few things: A stressed pleco is most likely the result of an insufficient tank setup, bad water quality and or conflicts with other fish or plecos. You must log in or register to reply here. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. (By Species), Breeding Pleco Catfish Guide With Pictures, Cory Catfish And Plecos Tank Mate guide, Do plecos bury themselves? One of the most common questions I hear is why do my pleco likes to hide and not come out. If your pleco is stressed, it may exhibit some of the following behaviors: Hiding is a natural defensive response for many fish. Nitrite is the most dangerous, and should always be at 0 ppm. Take action by doing water changes and adding an air pump. Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. Checking temperature and pH levels is also essential because the water needs to be at a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. Ich is a condition that involves the fish being infected by parasites. Clean the fish tank and regularly change the water to keep things clean. just keep an eye on him. Fast forward to the next day. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. If the fish is not moving, then there are no signs of life, such as breathing or eating, then it has likely died. Same my pleco only comes out when the lights are off and since ive got an enenemy (sorry if i spelled wrong) he just stays there and dosent move at ALL even in the day and the lights are off i guess he loves darkness an also cus hes hiding from my guppie named bob. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank. The first thing you should consider is whether the pleco has died or not. !My betta fish isnt moving but he is alive. Another potential problem involves the oxygen levels in the tank being too low. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. I came over to his house about 4 hours later and noticed the plec was missing. This is the main reason why we cycle aquarium tanks. Problems can occur when caring for plecos. However, like any fish, they can develop sickness too. When you try to touch the fish, its going to react and swim away. If there are elevated levels of chemicals, perform small water changes for a couple of days to lower the concentration. Plecos need to be kept in fish tanks with high oxygen levels. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. This disease is called ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and can be fatal if not treated. Researching before owning your pleco will give you the necessary information and guidance on preventing and treating these issues when they happen because not every fish owner is perfect. Its also imperative to regularly clean the fish tank. It can hard to know whether your pleco is stressed, as theyre quite withdrawn fish. What does it mean when a pleco fish dies overnight? Pleco fish are amazing animals and very interesting for aquarists. If your pleco has seemingly rips/cuts in its fins, its most likely fin rot. Just laying on the bottom. Plecos arent known death, although they sometimes sleep on their backs which gives this impression. It is a disease that causes fluid build-up in the eye socket, resulting in the eyes protruding out of the socket. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! Definitely looks underweight. Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. If you catch some of the signs early enough, then itll be possible to turn everything around. You called it a he is it actually male? Highly recommend algae wafers. I'm not entirely sure the kind of pleco as I didn't buy him but I think he is a common pleco. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. Poor water conditions, bacterial infections, and even injuries have been known to make this happen. The best way to prevent your Pleco from dying is to feed them a variety of food and provide at least 10 gallons of water for them every day. Even the pleco was quite all right till yesterday. We have a separate article all about Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), so be sure to check it out. Open the lid of the tank and turn on the artificial lights. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. Malnutrition can also lead to constipation, especially when too much protein is fed. High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. In most cases, it is poisoning by ammonia, nitrite, or other nitrogen. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. This happened all of a sudden. They love to eat, and you should try to feed them as much as you can. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. Ammonia and nitrites build up then bacteria build up to convert them into something less harmful to fish. Pleco Not Moving but Breathing. When my pleco sleeps on his back, it is usually under a wood or in a dark spot, where he wont be bothered. Most plecostomus species are nocturnal, meaning that they are more active at night than during the day. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. I would be more concerned if I touched him and he didn't swim away. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. If the water condition and bacterial infections caused the situation, then youll need to fix those problems. Make sure to find the cause so that you can add antibiotics if needed. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. The problem may have been caused by the fish swallowing air, so pre-soak the fish food in the future to avoid this problem. If you give them a variety of hiding spots, a variety of plants, and a variety of tank mates, your pleco will most likely be happier and more active. If you get no response, the fish is surely dead. Youll also get a bit of information about why these signs are occurring. Some will also cause fish to have a hard time breathing. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. If this is not taken care of, it will cause your fish to die. Not real sure though since don't feel like doing an experiment. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Sometimes I will catch him moving about. What are you feeding this little guy? How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? My name is Jeff, and my goal with this site is to share everything I've learned over the years about caring for aquatic life. In pursuit of becoming a professional, I also want to inspire as many people as I can to pick up this hobby and keep the public interest growing.Read more about Sean.Please join also my Facebook group. Youll be able to fix things before they get bad so that your fish will stay alive. Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. That caused me to look at all of the fish, and I saw that many were very pale. Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. Posted on Last updated: February 14, 2023. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Many conditions that have the potential to kill plecos can be fixed with the right treatments. Since plecos are a type of catfish, they feed off of algae. Without the tank cycled, there are no good bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrates for live plants to consume. Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. Full Tank Mate Guide, Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size 101: Everything You Need To Know, Pleco Price: How Much Do Pleco Cost? (Possible Causes). One day, I was excited to see the male had trapped the female in a cave, so I was expecting some babies.However, the next morning I waked up noticing the fish death in the cave. Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. I have had him in this tank and the fish with him for over a year. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. ive heard a story of one spending a few hours on the carpet under a tank (jumper).. when he was found his skin was all dry and his owner thought he was dead but when he went to pick him up he moved.. so after a few weeks in a recovery tank he was back to normal During our latest move, Wataugachicken and I could'nt dislodge one of the bristle nose plecs from our largest chunk of driftwood. FishForums.net is one of the internet's oldest and premier Tropical Fish and Aquarium forums! Try touching the fish and see if it reacts. This can happen to one eye or both. Please help. This is absolutely not true. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. This is of course innocent. There is a possibility that something happened in the tank, though. I had this fish gang for 2 years together now, with only minor Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Poor conditions in the tank can contribute to infections. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. He might be guarding eggs or trying to entice a female to breed with him. To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. If you offer them a place where they can feel safe, such as a dark spot under an ornamental plant, they will often come out to visit with you. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or eat and I'm worried. As I said, the other fish are showing no signs of stress. When one of us would pack it in for a while we would pass this one pleco to another person. What's wrong with him? Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! I just found my pleco upside down on the gravel. Fish can recover from this but most will die. His very favorite food though is fresh raw zucchini. Most of these signs of death are preventable by monitoring the water conditions and performing weekly water changes. An oxygen deficit can be caused by a nitrite/ammonia spike, high temperatures, or a broken filter. If your pleco is losing its color and slowly turning white, this might be an indication that it's either sick or dying. Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? Feb 14, 2004. Keep reading to know more. Sometimes fish will get like this when theyre sick. Are you watching him 24/7? This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. What should I do?! Thats because theyre quite withdrawn fish that dont want to show when theyre sick (otherwise, predators will notice). Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. Very bad water conditions might even directly kill the fish. If it doesnt move if you try to touch it, then its truly dead. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. I have one Bristlenose Pleco in a 55 gallon aquarium along with some other fish. I quickly put in an airstone and within 5 minutes they were back to normal. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. Pleco turning white is one of the signs your pleco is dying Temperature, stress, food, environment, water or bullying all can lead to discoloration of plecos and eventually death. 7 - Dropsy Add an airstone if your filter doesnt create enough surface movement. Contests including the Tank of the Month, Foods that sink to the bottom where the plecos can eat them. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month and more! What kind of disease? Help!! (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? This typically isnt the case, and some plecos dont even eat algae. Weve touched on the diet already, but heres some more in-depth information. One of our goldfish is sitting at the bottom of the tank and not moving. To deal with any such situation, you should have the contact of a veterinarian in your new [], @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. A male with eggs/ babies may stay in the cave for several weeks without eating. Fix issues with the water quality and give the fish antibacterial treatments.
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pleco not moving but breathing