Bloated Bristlenose

[TLM4x4]

Ive never seen this in a pleco before...what could be going on? Found him upside down on the sand this morning and his tummy looks alot bigger than it should...do plecos get bloat???? I stuck a net in the tank and that stirred him up hes been right side up since then but it doesnt look good...and I have no clue...

 

[Lotus]

My plecos looked like that when I ODed on CO2. Is there plenty of water movement in the tank?

Have you checked your parameters?

 

[Pure]

Again lotus is right. this is normally caused by O2 deprivation. But can also be seen in younger plecs from an inadequate diet.

 

[dogdoc]

Hope he's feeling better.

 

[TLM4x4]

well hes still kicking this morning which kind of surprised me...I feed both shrimp pellets and algea tabs...water params are in normal range, good water movement in the tank with an xp3 plus HOB filtersystem...tummy still bloated and havent seen it eat however has been "working" in the tank so is moving around. I did see it flop on his back again last night but then righted itself right away. sigh, nothing more I can do I guess....

 

[TLM4x4]

........and......STILL kicking wow and I really thought he was a goner...I havent seen him eat but is moving around sucking on the walls of the bg anddddd his tummy isnt bloated as bad as it was!! go figure.....

 

[prettypleco]

Thank goodness! I bet you are relieved!

 

[TLM4x4]

Yes...VERY, I cant stand it when theres something wrong with one of my fish...its crazy in that I feel I need to be doing something to make it better like when you have little kids lol They are totally dependant on us, just like our kids or other pets...not by anymeans comparing little kids to pets but ya gotta admit, there are definate similarities.

 

[Pure]

Yes Kathy you are indeed lucky.. *knocks on wood* normally when you see this bloat it is too late and they just die. Sorry for being so down about it, this is just what I have seen before.

VERY glad to hear he is doing ok!

 

[TLM4x4]

02 deprivation? I just re-read what you and Lotus said about that but it didnt sink in yesterday...thats really strange..you would think if it was 02 deprivation it would have also effected my mbunas as well and no one has been at the surface gasping or generally acting abnormal. As I said, I had never seen or heard of this in plecos...thanks Shannen. Keep knockin on wood for afew more days k? lol

 

[dogdoc]

Keeping fingers crossed for you.

 

[TLM4x4]

Aww thanks for all the support

 

[Pure]

Well yeah they are more sensitive to lower levels of O2 than most fish.

I'm actually wondering if the "he" is a "she" and was just egg bound?? Sorry I don't know why I didn't think about that sooner.

 

[TLM4x4]

well.."IT" is still kicking!! LOL Acting all normal now...I never saw any eggs? tho, and the tummy is looking normal again as well...thanks Shannen. Im gonna have to get a more up close and personal good look at this pleco and see if I can determine the sex for sure, will let ya know my observences...

 

[Pure]

Of course you didn't see any eggs

just kidding, but really if spawning wasn't triggered and you don't have a male to get busy with then she would have just reabsorbed the eggs.

 

[TLM4x4]

I moved this pleco into my 100 gal tank, so now I do have a male/female pair together and she is doing fine since when she got all bloated up. Thanks for the explaination Shannon.