Sick Pleco?

Aymthest · 07-06-2005, 08:45 AM

Recently my two common pleco's have been every 5 or 7 minutes darting up to the top of the tank to get air. Is this normal? I've had them for about 4 months and they have never done this. Please Help!

fishfreaks · 07-06-2005, 12:42 PM

sometimes they "just do" what are your water parameters??

Aymthest · 07-06-2005, 08:44 PM

The temp. is 77 F and the PH is 8.2. It is and African Cichlid set up. GH is 11 and KH is 7.

shev · 07-06-2005, 11:34 PM

Some plecos can breathe air if there isnt enough in the water. how much are you aerating?

Aymthest · 07-07-2005, 09:33 AM

I'm not sure exactly, but I have several rather lage air pumps going into their tank.

Maybe it's too much aeration?

fishfreaks · 07-07-2005, 12:23 PM

does he do it often? is he acting alright other than that? what size tank?

Aymthest · 07-07-2005, 12:51 PM

It's a 55 gal. And he never used to do this up until about a week ago.

**Damon** · 07-07-2005, 01:02 PM

If they are doing this every 5-7 minutes, I suspect they are not getting enough oxygen. What are the other tank inhabitants?

Aymthest · 07-07-2005, 04:45 PM

There is
1 venestus,
2 living stone,
1 Yellow lab,
2 Jewls,
and 1 Convict (temporarily only). Do you think they are stopping the pleco's from getting oxygen?

fishfreaks · 07-07-2005, 07:36 PM

something sounds fishy to me, what are your water parameters, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. when was the last time you did a water change?

Aymthest · 07-09-2005, 11:06 AM

Just as i went to check my water parameters I realized that they hadn't gone up for air in a while. So I'm looking around the tank for them and it turns out that they are both happily sucking on the wall meanwhile my venstus is dead. I watched them for the rest of the night and they didn't go up for air once. Maybe they were being stressed by the venstus? Aside from a dead fish I think everything is okay now.

Thank You all for helping!

07-06-2005, 08:45 AM	#1
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	Sick Pleco? Recently my two common pleco's have been every 5 or 7 minutes darting up to the top of the tank to get air. Is this normal? I've had them for about 4 months and they have never done this. Please Help!

07-06-2005, 12:42 PM	#2
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	sometimes they "just do" what are your water parameters?? __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-07-2005, 12:23 PM	#6
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	does he do it often? is he acting alright other than that? what size tank? __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-07-2005, 01:02 PM	#8
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	If they are doing this every 5-7 minutes, I suspect they are not getting enough oxygen. What are the other tank inhabitants? __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

07-07-2005, 07:36 PM	#10
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	something sounds fishy to me, what are your water parameters, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. when was the last time you did a water change? __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

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07-06-2005, 08:44 PM	#3
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	The temp. is 77 F and the PH is 8.2. It is and African Cichlid set up. GH is 11 and KH is 7.

07-06-2005, 11:34 PM	#4
shev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montana Age: 19 Posts: 1,561	Some plecos can breathe air if there isnt enough in the water. how much are you aerating?

07-07-2005, 09:33 AM	#5
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	I'm not sure exactly, but I have several rather lage air pumps going into their tank. Maybe it's too much aeration?

07-07-2005, 12:51 PM	#7
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	It's a 55 gal. And he never used to do this up until about a week ago.

07-07-2005, 04:45 PM	#9
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	There is 1 venestus, 2 living stone, 1 Yellow lab, 2 Jewls, and 1 Convict (temporarily only). Do you think they are stopping the pleco's from getting oxygen?

07-09-2005, 11:06 AM	#11
Aymthest Fishy Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Age: 27 Posts: 13	Just as i went to check my water parameters I realized that they hadn't gone up for air in a while. So I'm looking around the tank for them and it turns out that they are both happily sucking on the wall meanwhile my venstus is dead. I watched them for the rest of the night and they didn't go up for air once. Maybe they were being stressed by the venstus? Aside from a dead fish I think everything is okay now. Thank You all for helping!

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