New Bristlenose dead after a week, another?

[FroggyFox]

Hey all...just wanted to get some opinions. I have a 29G with some brichardis, two julies, a cylindricus and a comp. They're all pretty small...a couple of the brichardis are full grown, and one of the julies is much bigger than the other. This julie thinks (he?) it is the king of the tank. He has his own little cave in the middle and generally hangs out by it or in it.

Well last Saturday I got a new bristlnose pleco. I slowly introduced him to the tank (floated the bag, poured some tank water into it, waited, poured some more, then netted him from the bag and put him in the tank.

He seemed like he was getting along with everyone OK, except that he really liked the julie's cave...so the julie kinda beat up on him for that. Not too bad, no physical damage. Well...yesterday the julie was pestering the pleco...and I went to dinner...came back...and my pleco is dead He was SO cool...

Honestly, I dont think I did anything wrong, He was sucking on stuff in the tank...dropped some algae wafers to make sure he was getting enough to eat. His fins looked a little tattered and I'm not sure if that could be from the rock in the tank, or maybe a little fin rot?

OK the opinions I'd like are: A- how hardy do your bristlenoses seem to be? Would a week's worth of pestering from a Julie really kill him?

B- He lived in my tank for a week...is that too long to have had something kill him like different water conditions or not acclimating him slow enough or had fin rot from the store etc?

C- Should I get another one? These plecos I have only found at one store around here and they're 14 bucks a pop. I'm ok with spending the money again...but I dont want to get another one if its just going to die. The problem in the tank is mostly brown algae...but I was scared to put an otto in there. Now I'm wondering if an otto would be OK since they're so fast and small enough as not to be seen as a "threat" by the julie? I dont want to just put one of my ottos in there and have him killed

Kinda still mulling this over in my head of course...but wanted to throw it out there and see what you guys think.

 

[clothahump]

If the abdomen was swollen then it will probably be internal bacteria/parasites, they are extremely prone to this due to their feeding habits.

 

[FroggyFox]

Well I flushed him, but when I took him out last night I looked pretty closely and didn't notice any bulging areas. How much difference would there be if he was bloated? Like would it be obvious? because I looked at him pretty close. The other thing I noticed that seemed a little odd was that some skin underneath on the left side like towards his gills seemed puffed out. I didn't know if that was just what he looked like when he died...or if it was something wrong.

Oh...and does anyone know if they die of starvation if their tummies would be sunken in like a bettas? I didn't notice it sunken in...but maybe he just didn't get enough to eat because the other fish were bugging him??? I dont know...

 

[clothahump]

The swelling can be hard to spot and is usually associated with redness.

 

[FroggyFox]

Hmm...well...is there any way to avoid that/keep it from happening again if that was what it was?

 

[clothahump]

Keep the substrate clean and treat any new bottom feeders before adding to the aquarium.

 

[Orion]

Well like cloth said, the best way to besure the plec is a healthy one is to QT him for a while. I don't know if you have the space available or the tank available to do so right now.

I tried 4 bushy nose in my 45. At first I thought it was a male N. brevis killing them off, but turns out it was actualy another plec that I have never been able to ID. I had no idea they could get so dang teritorial! But thats a moot point in your situation as no other plecos were present in your tank.

I've noticed that my N. brichardi picked on a pleco I put in when I first put him in the tank, but after a few weeks, it was fine. My brevis male is quite boisterous and will attack my finger or hand if it gets to close for comfort in his area, but I've never seen him attack the pleco, or even the juvenile julies in the tank. I think that a Julies mouth is too small to do much damage at one time, but with repeated blows, I think it would be quite possible for it to kill it. If you did add another one, I would add some more caves for the pleco, and hope that a new one does not prefer the julies cave like the other one did.

 

[wayne]

Julies can be little terrors. If you do add another rearrage the tank

 

[FroggyFox]

I'm finding that out Ironically I just rearranged the tank like a couple days before I got him, and the fish all just moved with their structures and "his" cave is still "his" cave -=sigh=-

Actually I'm really wondering what would happen if I put an otto in there. Because he's small...might he not be a threat to the julie? Or will the julie just kill him faster...

 

[lordroad]

I'd try an otto froggy... My black ghost knife eats anything the size of a guppy, but he leaves my 2 ottos totally alone. They're fast and a lot of fish leave them alone because I believe they are armored.

Try it for a day and keep an eye on them.

Plus ottos are cheap and hardy once you get some in good condition. I bought three a while back, expecting two to die, but all of them are going on strong.

 

[FroggyFox]

Well I have two ottos...and usually move them around between my other tanks...I've had them both for over a year...probably going on two years, so I'm a little hesitant to try..but really like you said they are quick. They're the hardest ones to net!

Anyone else have any ideas? I suppose if the otto thing doesn't work I can wait until after I move and then try another bristlenose. He was really cool...

 

[FroggyFox]

Well I moved an otto into the cichlid tank on Thursday...so far so good. They showed some interest in him at first, but I haven't seen any of them bugging him recently. When he's stationary they ignore him completely...and then sorta look at him when he's moving...but he moves quick enough that they lose interest I think. SO I'm keeping my fingers crossed...but so far so good.

 

[MissMinerva]

Your otos would be much happier (less stressed) if they had some pals. Would it be possible to get about 3-4 in each tank? This is something I've learned from past experience. Good luck with them!

 

[FroggyFox]

My ottos have been happy and healthy living alone ever since I got them a couple years ago...I dont think I'd want to endanger more of their lives in this tank. Thanks for the thought though.

 

[lordroad]

How's the little guy doing in the mean tank, froggy?

I keep two in my 55 gallon with some very large fish, and 1 in my ten gallon. All three are doing fine and are tough as nails.

Been two days... usually I've found if there's a problem you'll see it by now.

 

[FroggyFox]

Actually I moved him on Thursday, so he'll have been in there a week as of tonight! He seems to be doing ok. I haven't seen him on the right half of the tank much (the brichardi territory) but that doesn't mean he's not over there during the day sometime. I was scared for him, cuz he's really one of my favorites, but I think he'll be ok

 

[Seleya]

If you want to try another bristlenose, do a major water change before adding him. I dunno about if he simply got pushed around too much, but do know they do best when added after a *good* water change.

 

[FroggyFox]

Well darnit. The Otto went missing day before yesterday...he was looking a little listless for the couple of days before that...but still good coloring. Then last night I saw a couple fishparts and his little ribcage At least he lived a nice life. He was well over a year old. It just baffles me that the bristlenose lasted over a week...and the otto lasted about 6 weeks...and I havent lost another cichlid in forever. Maybe all of them gang up on the newcomers??

I dont know if I want to try another bristlenose. I mean I know I do, but I'm afraid for him. I will probably mull over it for awhile and let the snails take care of the algae for now. Anyone with really great ideas is welcome to pipe up...