mystery

[robertsracing]

I have 3 plecos in a55 gal w other fish (oscar, parrot, gourami,) one died 2 days ago the other 2 r swimming sideways and acting weird, 1 is actually in bad shape!! Now check this out, no discoloration, no spots, water is almost perfect, nothing unusual done to tank, fish have their dark normal color, other fish r just fine, their just dying and i dont get it, I have had them almost 1yr.

 

[MissFishy]

Sounds like something with the water quality. Check ammonia levels (that's the first culprit), think if any toxins could have contaminated the water. Dish soap, febreze, perfumes sprayed by it. I would immediately do some huge water changes.

 

[robertsracing]

Theres nothing wrong with the water, I've done every test there is on the water, ph is fine, ammonia is fine, nitrates and nitrites r fine, its really wierd, the fish look very healthy, I dont know (scratching my head).

 

[MissFishy]

Floating on the side is very typical of some sort of water problem. Something may have inadvertantly gotten in the tank. Someone spraying windex, perfume, air freshener near the tank, etc. Like I said, do some large water changes, but a lot of times if the fish have been poisoned, they won't recover.

 

[bmoraski]

Theres nothing wrong with the water, I've done every test there is on the water, ph is fine, ammonia is fine, nitrates and nitrites r fine, its really wierd, the fish look very healthy, I dont know (scratching my head).

Curious what the actual numbers were ?
and are you using dip tests or drop tests.
as MissFishy said it sound like a water problem.
you would be surprised what can get in your tank.
I have found my daughters hair in my tank !
im not kidding !
so she knows now not to spray anything in the den ( mainly for my birds )

 

[nikcasper]

well three plecos is alot for that 55 gal, i know that pleco's sometimes tend to get aggressive towards each other as they get bigger. if the one may have been getting attacked by the other plecos it could of gotten over stressed or just got to beat up died.

In my 90 gallon you can tell outta the two plecos which one is dominant, and the smaller one if he isn't hiding my oscars will take a bite at him too.

 

[stoddern]

anything can get in a tank, mine is on a recessed shelf in the wall so it is under a set of stairs that are walled up and I keep finding cat hair floating on the surface and my tank is completly covered

 

[robertsracing]

Thank u for the responses, here r the numbers.

strip test
nitrate- 40 mg
nitrite- 0 mg
hardness- 75
pH- 6.8

drop test

pH- 7.2

ammonia- ideal (cant remember number) ran out of drops or i would test again, but i tested 3 days before i made this post.

I have this tank for a little over a yr now never had any problems, my plecos are: 1st pleco, 6inch, 2nd pleco 5 inch, 3rd pleco 3 inch..

And like i said my other fish r doing just fine.

I have a gravel filter and a cascade 500 filter.

I really thank u ppl for ur time!!!

 

[nikcasper]

which pleco died?

 

[MissFishy]

Plecos can be very aggressive towards eachother, especially as they get large.

Ammonia should not have had ANY numbers, should be at absolutely 0.0. I still think this sounds like a contamination or ammonia issue.

 

[robertsracing]

the small, and the medium plecos died, and the ammonia test drops say ideal.

Anyway the biggest one (6 in) is still alive and seems to be doing better, I just thought it was weird to go a little over a yr, and this happen. I dont have much experience with this, but i have studied on it quiet a bit, and I'm always doing some kind of test on my water, just to make sure it is rite. I'm beginning to think this is a aggression/dominance type of thing among plecos!!!!!!!!