pleco not moving but breathing

Fixing the water conditions will usually be enough to get the fish to become more active again. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Even the tiny three-inch long zebra plecos are carnivores. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? White spots may appear on your fish if it is sick. Make sure to find the cause so that you can add antibiotics if needed. As long as nothing appears to be wrong with the fish, its not necessary to worry. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. If the fish isnt moving or breathing, its possible that its dead. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. I know that this thread was posted in 2003 but I just wanted to revive it as we had an accident with 2 of our pleco's today, a bristlenose and a dwarf clown pleco. 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. Barely breathing! Filtration is crucial to keep your water parameters optimal, as pleco catfish are big polluters. Sometimes plecos will just float near the top of the tank when the oxygen levels arent sufficient. In some cases, it might even be as extreme as males killing each other. We are a family friendly community with an incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike. The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. These fish simply arent active during the day. Youll want to fix issues with the oxygen levels being too low. Continue reading to learn about reasons why plecos might stop moving. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? Feb 14, 2004. Quarantining fish is putting them in a closed-off environment for a couple of weeks, before putting them in your main tank. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? Moving forward, it should be easier to look out for problems with the fish. We need the oxygen to flow and the current from a filter or movement of . Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. If it truly isnt moving at all, then there is a good chance that the fish is dead. LL, yes I just moved, but the pleco has been in this water for almost a month. Fish tank Pet fish Pet Animals and Pets. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? There are other reasons why a pleco might start floating, but its possible that the fish could be dead. Hopefully, this will never happen in your fish tank. JavaScript is disabled. This makes it easier for them to get bacterial infections. My husband's pleco often does this. Is Your Pleco Swimming Upside Down? (7 Causes of Swim Bladder Issues) Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. Are its gills moving or does it appear to be motionless? The hardest test for a Pleco keeper is to get the Pleco addapted to his new home. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. Hopefully, that wont be the case for your fish. My fish is breathing slowly and is laying at the bottom of his tank on his side. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions 7 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying and Needs Attention. You must log in or register to reply here. Since plecos dont have scales, it can be hard to know whether its dropsy or not. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. Fast forward to the next day. It was not just one of my plecos but several. Why is my pleco hiding behind the filter? Ouwch. #3. I think it is just tired or not used to your tank try turning the lights off. Definitely looks underweight. I had a big common pleco that lived for over 10 years in a 30 gallon tall along with. This is normal behavior when the fish is just introduced to a fish tank. JavaScript is disabled. The Pleco is Bloated. Often, people use aquarium salt to treat this issue, but you can always consult an exotic veterinarian if you have questions. Then it has cloudy eyes. Adding fish without acclimating them causes shock. If it doesnt move if you try to touch it, then its truly dead. Poor pleco got nudged accidentally with the hose, though, and he's having a -really- hard time swimming. But getting a hold of aquari-sol quickly may be an issue. Read on to learn about things to look out for that show that your plecos might be dying. Fix issues with the water quality and give the fish antibacterial treatments. Vampire plecos need to be fed meaty foods such as shrimp and snails. All Rights Reserved. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. Plecostomus fish, commonly called plecos, are relatively easy to take care of. He is starting to show his age but. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. Always supply food in the presence of light to the baby fish. The signs above have a lot of things in common. Acclimation is floating the bag and slowly adding tank water to the bag to adjust the fish to your tank water. Very bad water conditions might even directly kill the fish. He is still alive. You need to feed the fish the right type of food to keep them alive and healthy. While there are a lot of similarities between plecos types, there are also a lot of differences in terms of care. Are you noticing that your fish doesnt have a lot of pep? A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. Temperature levels, chemical levels, and pH could be contributing factors to poor water conditions. Just keep an eye on him. 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. I think that it is nothing to worry about. ), -Research nutrition based on specific pleco species, fin edges turn black or brown and look frayed, have white dots (another possible symptom of ich). Do not . I drop an algae wafer in every other day and he usually jumps right on it but since he stays in his little all the time now Im not sure if he eats it. 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. Checking temperature and pH levels is also essential because the water needs to be at a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Forum and expert information on caring for Bristlenose Catfish Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, and this likely made you confident enough to purchase some even as a beginner. How is your pleco doing Vicki? Cloudy eyes will be a sign that the fish is being kept in bad water. High ammonia and nitrates will cause your fish to lay on its side or lack normal movement around the tank. Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. Tank of the Month, It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. certain species have apparently demonstarted the ability to absorb oxygen into their blood through their stomac by swallowing it. It isnt uncommon for some baby plecos to die even if youre doing your best to care for them. If your Pleco has been hiding from you for a long time, it may be because the water in the tank is too cold. Cloudy eyes in fish appear as a white cast or film over the eye. You may also notice your pleco laying at the bottom of the tank or chasing the other fish around. My Albino catfish does this all the time. Supply food for the other fish during the day. 3. Having more females than males also helps. Checking your tanks levels and temperatures will help you determine if the tanks conditions are unsafe for your pleco. Wouldn't the fish survive for at least a few days even if it was suffering from a disease? Thanks, Tex Gal. An oxygen deficit is caused by one of the following reasons: A lack of oxygen should be reacted to immediately with a big water change and the addition of an airstone. Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. Start looking closely at the water parameters so that you can keep the fish safe. Molly lying on side on bottom of tank, moving very little. How to Keep Baby Plecos Alive? 11 Facts You Should Know - WhyPetFish.com The most common cause of this is poor water conditions. Unfortunately, this is not true. Although some plecos do like to eat algae, not all of them do. You transfer water from the aquarium to the bag while slowly removing water from the bag. I feed my Plec bloodworm, cichlid diet, sinking pellets, flakes and he eats algae. At the petstore, which of course is just a pet store. Good luck. Fish can recover from this but most will die. How to solve a problem like resuscitating an escaped fish If your pleco fish doesnt appear to be moving, youre likely going to be incredibly concerned. Do you notice your pleco has no clear eyes, but a white milk-like color? Water parameters are good. you read and agreed to the. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Paleness is certainly a distress symptom. Resting on the bottom of the tank or hiding in plants or other objects. Yes this normally happens with Plecos. Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. They do things at night and youre not going to see them scurrying about much when the sun is out. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. How long can a Pl*co survive out of water | AquariaCentral.com My pleco is not sucking anything please help!!! If there are elevated levels of chemicals, perform small water changes for a couple of days to lower the concentration. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. My pleco is sick. :( | Freshwater Fish Disease and Health Forum Also, theyre nocturnal fish that rest during the day. Most of them can be caused by poor water conditions in the tank. The way your one is laying is a bit worrisome. Weve touched a little on improving the tank setup for your pleco catfish. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. Just laying on the bottom. If you get no response, the fish is surely dead. If the pleco doesnt respond to you moving it around but still breathes, you have to provide it will clean water as soon as possible and test your water. If your pleco is gulping at the surface, it doesnt have enough oxygen and is suffocating. Sometimes Plecos can be a little shy and may hide from people, especially if they have been harassed by humans in the past. 3. You can get something called Stress Coat at the pet store, it basically removes any chlorine that may be in your water, it has also been proven to reduce fish stress. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. They like to eat shrimp and bloodworms. lol. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? One or both eyes might wind up being covered by a white or gray slime. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. Please help! If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together. Help!! Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. In addition, you will want to quarantine the sick fish, as it is contagious and will spread quickly. We finished breaking down our multiple tanks, loaded the moving truck, drove it for three hours, spent two more hours waiting for the moving helpers, got the truck unloaded, started setting up the tanks, put the decor back in, added the fish. and the bristle nose swam out of the wood when we put in algae wafers. A long, long, long time ago when I was young my friends and I always had tanks. This will make you assume that its dead. I may not have had one of the happiest childhoods, but I am having one of the longest. To test if your pleco is dead or not, you can try to touch it and see whether it reacts. I have heard of RTC living out of water for 45 mins!!! He also has a white spot on his eye. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. Goldfish Laying on his side, breathing ever 15-30 secs. It could also mean that the fish is constipated, though. When a pleco is not moving it can be a sign that the water has gotten too polluted or it is lacking food. Keeping an eye on the water parameters and cleaning the tank regularly will help to prevent things like this from happening. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. Clean your fish tank. Infections are usually caused by the various bacteria and parasites that may be present in the tank. Plecos can stay in the same place for long periods of time, or move and go back without you knowing it. Plecos dying: its a sad sight and one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Pleco Not Moving but Breathing. Check to see if anything is causing the fish stress. Youll also need to fix issues with water quality in the tank while solving stress problems. An air pump is optional, but recommended to prevent your pleco from swimming up to the surface to gulp air. They should be living for a very long time under your care. However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. My Pleco Catfish doesn't MOVE or EAT? - YouTube Im experienced in the fishkeeping hobby for many years. If you are worried, you can try to move the pleco with your hands and see if it swims away. Floating the fish for an hour or so will help it to get used to the water temperature of its new home. If you catch some of the signs early enough, then itll be possible to turn everything around. A sunken belly is the result of the gut flora dying off and even though these fish are very hardy, it will lead to death. WHats wrong? You should be able to keep plecos alive for many years with proper care. Did you add any new fish recently, particularly any wild caught or F1s? Here are some of my favorite foods for plecos (make a selection suited for the species youre keeping). I think you can see him in my signature pic. Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure. I had a pleco who lived out of water for 12 mins! Unlike ich or fin rot, there are no medicinal treatments for cloudy eyes, as the problem will solve itself when the cause has been determined and fixed (water conditions, tank aggression, etc.). 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It] | Keeping Catfish Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? You might see a pleco fish laying at the bottom of the tank motionless. I have seen bottom dwelling loaches just get very pale and colorless when there is too much CO2 in the water. It is an extreme problem with oxygen to have, but it can occur if you don't do a good job maintaining the tank. My Pleco did that for a while too. These are great fish and you want them to thrive under your care. Threw him in the tank anyway and it survived. Diseases and Treatment. It might be normal to see a pleco breathing but not moving. Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. They do generaly but if it is stunted then I would say I lived to its maximum potential given the circumstances. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. Your fish may be suffering from ich if their skin appears to have white dots that look like salt or sugar flakes. Fin rot is one of the most preventable illnesses, as the main contributor to this disease is poor water conditions. Generally he is pretty active but sometime he just stay on one stop and don't move at all, even for like 1-2 days. If you have a nitrite spike in your aquarium, it will make the fishes red blood cells unable to carry oxygen, leading to it suffocating. Bloating isn't that difficult to identify. Plecos are often wrongfully accused of eating and destroying plants. (his color blends in real well with the wall - and where he wedged himself in is hard to see unless you are looking for it. Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. When plecos are just getting used to a new environment, theyre going to be rather skittish. He might be guarding eggs or trying to entice a female to breed with him. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. Any recent additions to the tank, or changes made in decor or anything? Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Most Plecos are nocturnal and we don't get to see them eat. Betta Laying on side not moving but breathing. Are you watching him 24/7? By entering this site you declare This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Sometimes the fish might even be upside down. My pleco is laying on his back and just moving his gills - Reddit Cause (+ Cures) for a Fish That's Floating Upside-Down But is Still How big of a tank do they need? Make sure to add plenty of caves and natural hiding spaces if you keep multiple males in the same tank. If the pleco is not moving but breathing, then there are several things that could be happening. Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. Since yesterday, he's just been laying on the floor of the tank, so I don't think he's eaten anything. 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. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. Small anekdote: I have a tank of zebra plecos (L46) (the fish that costs $200+ a piece). Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. Make sure the tank has been cycled before introducing any fish to it so there are no dangerous spikes in the water. You must log in or register to reply here. Fish that are acclimated in this fashion become comfortable in new tanks faster. Now that weve gone over the symptoms, its time to find the cause of these problems. Experts Answer, How To Raise Pleco Babies (Full Guide With Pictures), Cory Catfish Tank Mate Guide (+ 11 Best Tank Mates For Cory Catfish), The Ideal & Healthiest Diet For Cory Catfish, Odd Corydoras Behavior & Stress Explained (Full Guide). Some even buy them specifically to try to keep the fish tank clean. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. Also, algae is starting to grow on the glass so I dont think that hes roaming around much at night either. My drop checker had pretty much all of the air OUT of the "exchainge" area, in it's place was water. If you have plecos that just keep dying in your fish tank, then you probably arent caring for them properly. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. I would watch him closely, make sure he eats. If your pleco is sleeping: They will typically be in a motionless or relaxed position, with their fins and gills not moving as much as usual. If you can learn how to care for these fish properly, then they shouldnt be dying fast. 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. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Change the Tank Water Frequently. Common pleco not moving after tank flush! Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. Why is my Pleco Floating Upside Down? (4 Quick Solutions) While in fact, there are hundreds. Loss of color, rotting fins, and white spots on its body are some of the common signs that a pleco might be dying. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. If your pleco is gulping at the surface or swimming up and down the tank to reach for oxygen, this is a severe problem. When I first set up my pressurized co2 system I was gassing my fish out. Most of these signs of death are preventable by monitoring the water conditions and performing weekly water changes. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. HELP! My pleco is going crazy! I don't know what's wrong. There are many things to consider, and you dont want to ignore signs that your fish are in trouble. You might even be concerned that the plecos are dying if things are going particularly bad. Silly fish. Huge plecos like this need A LOT of broccoli to survive ;). The problem may have been caused by the fish swallowing air, so pre-soak the fish food in the future to avoid this problem. Why Did My Pleco Die and How to Prevent the Fish from Dying? Monitor your fishs feeding to ensure he is eating. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Most of the day, he is there. Adding an oxygen source also helps. The Complete Answer, Can Plecos And Shrimp Live Together? If he's alive and swims away why are you worried? ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH? My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not movi By entering this site you declare Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. Young animals are sensitive to too much protein. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There has to be something wrong. Bristlenose plecos are unique fish with unique needs and preferences. If your pleco's fins start to rot or decay, it is important to act quickly as this can spread to the fish's body. Try to fix this issue by isolating the fish and fixing issues with the water quality. Many people mistakenly think that plecos dont need to be fed. Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. The fish might be very sick and it feels unable to move. If the fish is still alive, it should move when you touch it. Fixing constipation issues will be easy. You want to do the best job that you can while caring for plecos. To have a healthy Pleco fish, owners should keep assessing all these factors and keep maintaining a quality life for the Pleco for it to survive. Ill go over how to tell if your pleco is dying, the underlying causes of those symptoms, and how to prevent them from dying in the future. Unfortunately, catching him would be all but impossible. It looks like he is taking his last breaths in only a day and that too without showing any symptoms of any disease. In general these catfish aren't very demanding when it comes to space requirements since they share bottom levels of tanks or just rest on large plants and, as mentioned above, adult specimens grow to 13 cm in length (approximately 5 inches), moreover females grow smaller than males. How can I make my plecostomus more active? API Liquid Super Ich Cure is another product you can purchase to treat ich. He is still breathing, but he doesn't move when I approach him, only if I touch him. He was struggling really hard, and ended up tipping upside-down, fighting his way up to the surface, and all kinds of things. Ich is something that can be cured if you catch it in time. However, many times, the death of a plecostomus is avoidable by some simple changes in their care. You can make acclimating to the tank easier for the fish by taking the time to float the bag before putting it in the tank. 5 Clear Signs Your Pleco Is Dying - Fur, Wings, & Scaly Things If there are no good bacteria, harmful levels of ammonia can build up quickly as plecos produce a lot of waste. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. One of the most common questions I hear is why do my pleco likes to hide and not come out. They won't necessarily be dead yet, but they'll be struggling to try to breathe. It very well might be dead if it doesnt appear to be moving at all. It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. My pleco is laying on it's side still breathing but not moving. I don't want to lose him but I don't want him to suffer. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. Many plecos are omnivorous, meaning they need both plant-based foods and protein to thrive. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. It might help you to figure out how to help the fish by doing some troubleshooting. When a pleco lays motionless at the bottom of the tank it also means they might be getting beat up by other fish inside. Also having a water test kit for ammonia and nitrite will help greatly in knowing when to do water changes. My pleco has started acting as if he's on fire! Its also possible that nothing is wrong at all. Isolating the fish and fixing the problems source is imperative to save your pleco. Loss of color is a common sign that something is wrong with your plecos. 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. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. Many conditions that have the potential to kill plecos can be fixed with the right treatments. How to Know when Your Goldfish Is Dying: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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