Plecostomus
By Trace86
@Trace86 (5030)
United States
April 8, 2007 4:57pm CST
I have heard the plecostumi are very easy fish to keep alive. I bought one yesterday and looked in the tank before I went to bed and he was dead already.
This is not the first time that has happened.
I just don't understand why they always die on me.
3 responses
@clownfish (3272)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Hi! I'm sorry to hear about your fish! One other thought... was there enough algae growing in your tank to support it? I've seen new fish owners make the mistake of buying plecos before there was any algae growing in the tank. If that's the case, or there is very little algae, you can feed them alge tablets to keep them going during times of little or no algae. Hope that helps! :-)
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
9 Apr 07
There was actually quite a lot of algae. I let them sit in the bag in the water for half an hour. Later in the evening, I wasn't happy with my filter, it didn't seem to be putting out enough water. I went and got a new one. I got a different kind that seemed better, it has the biowheel. I may try again on Wednesday or maybe not.
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
9 Apr 07
It may indeed have just been a sick fish to begin with, it's fairly common, but I'm betting even more that your tank hasn't fully cycled yet. Especially with getting a brand new biowheel filter! I do like the biowheels a lot but it takes time to develop the necessary bacteria on that wheel before the water's safe.
I can't encourage you enough to get your water tested to make sure it's fully cycled before you put another pleco in!! Don't take the petshop idiot's word that your water is ok either if you let them test it for you! You should read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and preferrably 20 or less nitrate. If that's not what the tests show it's more likely that you'll just keep on losing plecos!
1 person likes this
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
10 Apr 07
How long have the old fish been in there? Plecos can be more sensitive than other fish to ammonia because they're scaleless. But if you've had a snail in there for any length of time he'd be one of the first to go if the water was too bad. Invertebrates are notorious for being sensitive to poor water conditions.
Get your water tested just to be on the safe side but yeah, with that info it seems more likely that you just need to find a better fish store. Just remember that plecos get HUGE and plan appropriately.
@NikkisGoodies (56)
• United States
17 Jul 07
I don't have any idea as to why your plecos keep dying, but a loach will get along fine with those types of fish. Just make sure that it has a spot to hide.
1 person likes this
