pleco not moving but breathing pleco not moving but breathing

Have you bought the pleco in question within the last week or so? Depending on the species, feed a varied diet of both vegetables and protein-rich foods that sink to the bottom. 7 - Dropsy Over the years I have kept many tanks, and have recently begun getting more serious in wanting to become a professional aquarist. Put him in the 10g quarantine tank, along with the current population (3 lemon tetras, 2 bronze cories, one oto). I think that it is nothing to worry about. Not related but kind of funny: I also have a Whiptail Catfish, if you're worried about fish that don't move, don't get one, they will just sit there even if another fish sits ontop of them or you touch them or anything. Vicki, I think it was the CO2 as well. Plecos can stay in the same place for long periods of time, or move and go back without you knowing it. Today he is floating upside down in the top corner of the tank. There might not be anything wrong at all. Make sure to take notice of this behavior, and to check your water parameters to know whether there might be a cause for this. pleco During a water change, I also removed a decoration containing a 2" common pleco and placed all the decorations in an igloo cooler overnight[was installing an ugj system] to my amazement the next day while I was replacing the decor, low and behold there was my pleco in the bottom of the cooler, he had been in there for over 20 hrs. Htels & Rsidences de tourisme; tablissements recevant du public; Habitats individuels & collectifs; Amnagements extrieurs; Design, Mobilier & Tapisseries They like to eat shrimp and bloodworms. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms, the causes, and treatment options for your pleco. Hallo everyone, I have a question concerning my 4 year old 10.6 inch pleco. However, if your pleco is dying: They may exhibit unusual or distressed behavior, such as rapid breathing, lethargy, or loss of appetite. 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. The eyes may appear cloudy or bloody if an injury is the cause. This can be a sign of an internal infection due to injury or the food its been eating. Why is My Pleco Not Eating? Just keep an eye on him. If you cant see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants. You must log in or register to reply here. If your fish is showing a loss of color or turning white, this may be a sign your pleco is dying. 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. Plecs are also known to suck the slime coat off goldfish, causing injury and illness to the goldfish. If your pleco has seemingly rips/cuts in its fins, its most likely fin rot. Many different types of illnesses will make fish feel lethargic. It can hard to know whether your pleco is stressed, as theyre quite withdrawn fish. Most of the time, a pleco laying on its back or side is normal as they sometimes rest in this position. 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. Plecos that like to eat algae such as bristlenose plecos will need to be fed as well. It is a disease that causes fluid build-up in the eye socket, resulting in the eyes protruding out of the socket. My fish isnt moving. Perhaps the heater stopped working and the water temperature dipped far too low. 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.). API Liquid Super Ich Cure is another product you can purchase to treat ich. I have seen this behavior once before and today, its happening again. Does the fish appear to be gasping for air? However, they still require feeding two times a week to have a balanced diet. (+ 11 Ways To Stop Your Pleco From Eating Plants), Breeding Bristlenose Plecos (With Pictures), Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? 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. Make sure to ask your fish store whether they have quarantined the fish already. If youre not taking good care of the tank, then the fish might die. Do your best to determine what is wrong with the fish. Plecos are supposed to be fairly hardy fish, other reasons why a pleco might start floating. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Barely breathing! Many enthusiasts say that plecos will play dead sometimes. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Clean the fish tank and regularly change the water to keep things clean. Both tanks are also a bit small for their inhabitants, so moving your Plec will overstock your Goldie tank. Then it has cloudy eyes. When capturing the fish, be sure not to grab the tail fin because this could damage it. Sick goldfish not moving but breathing/alive. Youve learned so much about signs that your plecos are dying. If your plecos seem to be losing color rapidly, then its a sign that theyre dying or getting very sick. When done cleaning he put them back in, minus the pleco that had jumped out of the bucket. FishForums.net is one of the internet's oldest and premier Tropical Fish and Aquarium forums! whats wrong? Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. Fish could die due to being bullied by other fish as well. Malnutrition can make plecos get sick, and they will certainly die if you dont feed them enough. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. An aquarium needs about 6 weeks to fully cycle before you add fish. Home > Plecos > Care > 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It]. The Plecos never attack the food of other fish during such sessions. Start looking closely at the water parameters so that you can keep the fish safe. 3. Aggression in fish leads to erratic swimming and crashing into the tank. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Your pleco may also be stressed due to their tank mates. Also, you should make sure that he has a heater, filter, oxygen and all the basics. Youll want to fix issues with the oxygen levels being too low. If your pleco has a sunken belly, its starving due to malnutrition. Turn lights off and put in some bloodworm or something and then come back in five minutes with a torch. It could be that the pleco is just old. In order to keep your Pleco happy, you will need to ensure that the tank is heated and supplied with a filter. Foods that sink to the bottom where the plecos can eat them. My fish is breathing slowly and is laying at the bottom of his tank on his side. My pleco just pretty much hangs out in the same spot almost all day, as Gee mentioned they're nocturnal. (Possible Causes). Stress will make fish stop moving and acting normally, too. Low immune system. 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. Hello guys, thx for your answer and sry for my late reply. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. Is there a way to tell if a pleco fish is about to die? Theres a good chance that youre not doing regular tank maintenance. One time a buddy was cleaning his tank and took all the fish out and put them in a bucket. I feed my Plec bloodworm, cichlid diet, sinking pellets, flakes and he eats algae. It frustrates me that when you look up information about plecos, people speak about plecos as one species. he sound fine, try touching himand he will probably swim away. 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. If none of the above are the problem then diseases come into play. Especially if they are in the breeding season. JavaScript is disabled. It is important to research food options for your pleco because some brands have more harmful ingredients than good. I think you can see him in my signature pic. However, if you tap the fish tank, itll likely spring up and start swimming. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! Having more females than males also helps. You are using an out of date browser. Nighttime is when these fish can take their time exploring their tank to find food, which they often do by keeping their skin touching the substrate (or other objects in the tank). Also, does he have any places to hide? You might not be feeding them enough either. If possible it would be advisable to move the pleco to a nursing tank away from other fish. How can I make my plecostomus more active? These fish simply arent active during the day. Although a cloudy eye most likely isnt deadly, it is an indicator that something is wrong and should at least be examined. It can be caused by elevated ammonia levels in the tank or an injury that resulted in a bacterial infection. They are seriously chill dudes lol. This is absolutely not true. 5 Tips for moving into your new Home with pets, [] injured while moving. LL, yes I just moved, but the pleco has been in this water for almost a month. Problems can occur when caring for plecos. Its very plausible that plecos can die due to not being fed properly. I went and asked to the shop from where I got that pleco. JavaScript is disabled. Use an algae pad to clean the sides of tank, and siphon out the water left inside. I know Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar really loves shrimp pellets and occasionally freeze dried blood or tubifex worms. All my knowledge comes from experience and reading forums and a lot of informative sites. But the water parameters are checking out okay. This is perfectly normal behavior for plecos. Plecostomus is a type of suckermouth catfish that excretes massive amounts of waste. 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. It still might take plecos a bit to feel bold enough to swim around. The symptoms you describe are exactly what I saw happening to mine. My betta is laying at the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily. In some circumstances, plecos can get really aggressive towards each other. 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. A pleco dying is often the result of bad information and lack of knowhow about the species. Its a sign that something is wrong, and you might need to make some changes. in 60 degree water less than 1\4" deep! It creates an environment where the disease cannot grow or spread. It could be that the fish is sick and has some type of problem with its gills. If he's alive and swims away why are you worried? Nitrite is the most dangerous, and should always be at 0 ppm. You dont have to reach into the tank and touch it with your bare hand. Make sure that you dont have improper tank mates in the fish tank with your plecos. Noticing whether your pleco has a sunken in belly can be hard, especially if you dont see it very often. Many things can cause stress such as poor water conditions, overcrowded fish tanks, and incompatible tank mates. A lot of pleco types also benefit from driftwood in their tank. Fish laying on the bottom of the tank and breathing deeply require action as soon as possible. You really dont want to end up with a whole tank of death fish because you put in one sick fish. We need the oxygen to flow and the current from a filter or movement of . If you notice your pleco is breathing rapidly or gulping at the surface, its most likely because of an oxygen deficit. The fish could be just fine since its resting during the day. Nutrition might be playing a role in the fish dying as well. Abdominal swelling can be caused by many things including the following: stress, tank conditions, and constipation. Tank mates: one guppy, one otocinclus.. in a 20 gallon tank. They clean algae, but they make a bigger mess in your tank. Pleco upside down and breathing but not moving. The cause of most of these symptoms stems from the water conditions. We found him on the carpet under his bed and it looked pretty dead. When you dont treat this disease, it can cause the fish to lose vision or even lose the eye. Clean your fish tank. Check the water quality and try to fix anything that is wrong. I feed my fish with a dim light on in the room so they are used to light and I can check them over for disease without disturbing them because they think it is the sun setting. By entering this site you declare So i cranked it up. Good Luck. 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. Youll also need to fix issues with water quality in the tank while solving stress problems. If your pleco fish doesnt appear to be moving, youre likely going to be incredibly concerned. A filter is a must. This behavior can also occur when fish are exposed to high temperatures. Posted on Last updated: February 14, 2023. 1 - Loss of Color. I haven't added any decor nor moved anything. Why would a pleco fish stop moving entirely? He was just hanging there out of the water not moving. It is the most common disease in tropical fish, like plecos, and is likely caused by poor water conditions. Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good. You might notice the pleco fish swimming erratically. Plecos arent known death, although they sometimes sleep on their backs which gives this impression. I did my weekly 50% water change with my regular EI dosing which didn't bother him at all. Below, youll see some of the common signs that show that your pleco fish might be dying. i know hes alive because if i try and move him he will swim away, What do i do? Clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank with a gravel vacuum, and make sure any decorations are clean as well. Stress. (Per Species Guide), The 7 Biggest Giant Pleco Species You Didnt Know About, Do Plecos Eat Plants? Is the fish dead or is it really sick? Please help. Sometimes plecos that can't breathe well will float near the surface of the water. Using a tiny pointed tool, such as a pair of tweezers, slightly open the mouth and slightly loosen the gill covers. Breeding bristlenose plecos is certainly an exciting thing to do. He (or she) is normally pretty active, being a good vacuum cleaner for the tank. I have a fish who is laying at the bottom of the tank breathing rapidly whi My betta fish is laying at its side at the bottom of his tank and looks like hes struggling to My fish is laying on the bottom of the tank still breathing, Oscar laying on one side and only breathing (not moving at all) since morning. As long as they are damp or wet they can live for probably 20-30 minutes. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything hes learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium. 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. Fish laying on its side in the bottom of the tank. He does not even move if I touch him with a net, he just moves his tail a little. Poor water conditions usually cause bacterial infections. You should be changing 15% of the water on a weekly basis. The average life expectancy of plecos is between 10 and 15 years. Your pet store may have products that may do the job. You might need to address water quality issues. The Pleco is Bloated. This disease is not contagious but should be treated or death will follow. Check the tanks temperature to ensure it is between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Another reason for a pleco not moving is that it is dead. Mine in the day is under a log and will only come out if there is food. Issues with water quality can stress the fish and make them sick. Unless you are bying a large (when grown on) species of pleco who is to say that it's a baby, unless this is visualy obvious. Is it dying? Monitoring your water levels and performing weekly water changes will prevent this from happening to your fish. It could simply be that the pleco fish succumbed to an illness during the night. If this isnt the case, check your water parameters for a nitrite spike. 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. Cloudy eye is caused by bacteria and if your pleco is under stress, has had an injury, or lower immune system it can come up. Another option is giving it an Epsom salt bath, which will help remove the fluid build-up in the fishs abdomen. Although water conditions are the primary cause of these symptoms, low water temperature can also be a cause. Rotting fins is a sign that your fish have some type of bacterial infection. It was not just one of my plecos but several. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Why is My Pleco Not Moving? Receive our FREE eBook by filling out the form below. You should be testing the water parameters regularly to protect the fish. A male with eggs/ babies may stay in the cave for several weeks without eating. Pleco catfish are often kept in the aquarium hobby because, Plecos and cory catfish are two extremely popular catfish species, Pleco catfish are one of the most popular fish in, Pleco spawning Plecos are cave-breeders, and they spawn exclusively in, For a limited time, you can download our FREE pleco catfish ebook, 2022 KeepingCatfish.com - Privacy policy Webdesign by Websmart Websites. Ive had the pleco for 4-5 months now and hes usually very active day and night. If your temperature and pH are out of this range, you need to take steps to remedy the situation. A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. There has to be something wrong. One of the biggest myths is also that plecos clean your tank. Provide adequate space and decor (ornaments and positioning of objects) so there is no danger for your pleco. If the temperature of the water gets too low, then that could kill them. Pleco rotting fins. Breeding pleco catfish isnt as hard as you might think. I tried to prod him gently, but he still hasn't moved. Your pleco may be dying if it appears to have a bloated stomach. Most likely, the fish have fin rot due to poor water conditions in the tank. While in fact, there are hundreds. My fish is alive and moving, but isnt breathing? Alright, Ill try zucchinI and see if he likes it. I have never seen any fish go through as much as this guy did for about 10 years and live. I wouldn't worry too much about yours! Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! Water parameters are good. Plecos thrive in a tank setup with a variety of different natural covers, like pleco caves, stones, and driftwood. Quarantining and giving medicine is the most effective way to cure this disease. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Remember to do regular tank maintenance. Isolate the fish and then treat it to try to get the swelling to go down. 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. Checking temperature and pH levels is also essential because the water needs to be at a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. People dont monitor the water parameters closely enough, which winds up killing the fish. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are three crucial parts of the nitrogen cycle of aquariums. Poor conditions in the tank can contribute to infections. Even the pleco was quite all right till yesterday. Can Betta Fish Live With Guppies And Tetras? 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. Make sure to test your water if there are any abnormalities. You need to monitor the water parameters to keep things in check. Infections can be treated by isolating the sick fish and consulting your vet to determine the proper treatment. Fin rot is one of the most preventable illnesses, as the main contributor to this disease is poor water conditions. Checking the tank conditions and monitoring the fishs behavior are things you can do to determine the cause of the swelling. Thanks, Tex Gal. Some people may find their pleco to be more active if they feed it live worms or move it to a bigger tank. My husband's pleco often does this. Most plecostomus species are nocturnal, meaning that they are more active at night than during the day. i have heard reports of them lasting quite a while out of water. Plecos need to be kept in fish tanks with high oxygen levels. 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. Does he look as tough he's thin or sick? My Albino catfish does this all the time. Adding an oxygen source also helps. When plecos are just getting used to a new environment, theyre going to be rather skittish. 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. If your pleco has a cloudy eye but acts normal, it will probably go away by itself. 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. from the previous caretakers who did a pretty bad job in taking care of fish so I wouldn't be suprised if it is sick or something like that. Fin rot is caused by underlying conditions such as bacterial infection. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Just keep an eye on him. Plecs are tropical fish, and goldfish are coldwater, so they're not compatible unfortunately. All you need to do is solve the issues that are making the fish sick. The better stores will do, so in that case you dont have to. If the plecos are in a community fish tank, then itll be important to ensure that they are kept only with compatible tank mates. Do you see the gills moving at all or are they truly motionless? Regular water changes and cleaning the tank will also help your Pleco stay healthy. A fish dying during the night doesnt necessarily indicate that something happened the very night that it died. Good luck. 11 Signs Your Pleco Is Dying [+ How To Save It], Do Plecos Eat Snails? Leaving things alone could cause the fish to die. There are other reasons why a pleco might start floating, but its possible that the fish could be dead. Some plecos will swim upside down because they want to eat the food on the surface of the water. We have this ugly plastic reef wall thing that I want to take out that he used to hide in and we checked if he was alive and he moved to his current spot. Checking your tanks levels and temperatures will help you determine if the tanks conditions are unsafe for your pleco. Water quality problems will sometimes cause plecos to develop a condition known as cloudy eye. What are some signs that your pleco is dying? Pleco males usually fight to assert dominance and defend their territory. If it truly isnt moving at all, then there is a good chance that the fish is dead. Its also possible that plecos will lose color when experiencing significant stress. The most common cause of this is poor water conditions. Full Pleco Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know). I read that they loved blanched vegetables, so I have given them a cucumber slice the last three nights for about an hour and then took it out. You can tell if a pleco is dead by looking to see if its breathing. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. How To Know whether your pleco is dying, and the solutions for it. I also asked my lfs and he said they are MOST active at night. You should be able to keep plecos alive for many years with proper care. Ive put this first on the list because its probably the most frequently made a mistake. I think it may be that the paleness is a better indicator of excessive CO2 than the gasping at the top is. You might need to do a better job of doing regular water changes. If your pleco is gulping at the surface, it doesnt have enough oxygen and is suffocating. Just laying on the bottom. When the water quality is poor, it'll weaken the immune system of the plecos. There are various products that might treat it but as for your best option on products I don't know. This gave me false readings that my water had hardly any co2 in it. Hello, I have this pleco for like 6 months. Usually, rapid breathing is caused by some pollutant or toxic in the water. They can also take advantage of other opportunities that come with darkness, like avoiding predators. For a limited time, download my pleco catfish ebook below on how to care for these beautiful animals. My guppy is laying on its side at the bottom of the tank and still moving. The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. Lastly, before or during spawning, plecos can breathe more rapidly since this is energy-consuming. This process involves floating the bag on top of the tank. He also has a white spot on his eye. This can happen to one eye or both. he has been banging in to the top of the tank really hard. It might help you to figure out how to help the fish by doing some troubleshooting. If you have an aquarium with plecos and/or snails at, Many aquarists doubt they can keep plecos and shrimp together.