Pleco very sick!

[geordiemacky]

Hey everyone,
Look need some advice fast!
My pleco who I have had for about 3 years looks very sick.
About two days ago I noticed it acting strangely. Erratically swimming round the tank and up to the surface. He is now lying on his back, breathing really fast and then every so often "spazing" out and then settling again on his back.
Tank is 150 us gallons and has been set up for approx 4 years. It is a common plec about 9-10 long. I have done a quarter water change.
Any advice any one?

 

[lauraf]

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Anyone else in the tank looking off?

 

[geordiemacky]

Update,
The plec is still alive. But hardly moving still in the same state as 3 days ago. Other fish seem alittle subdued but fine. I have done a few more water changes and have checked nitrate, nitrite and amonia levels and they all look fine. I have two heaters and both looks fine.
I'll try that remedy tonight.
Any other tips anyone??

 

[skjl47]

Hello; My pleco did something similar a few months ago, but not for three days. I found it lying on it's back one morning and stationary. I thought it had died. It had a big wad of algae strands in it's mouth. I figgured it had somehow choked on the stuff. I touched it with an aquarium tool and it swam (Spazed?). It is fine now.

I had placed a lot of hornwort floating in the tank on which stringy green algae grows on the stems near the top of the tank close to the light. I have since observed the pleco, at night when the tank light is off, up in the hornwort grazing on the hornwort. I find bare stems quite often. I suspect that it likes the algae enough to make an effort to get into the dense portion of the hornwort where the algae is thicker. I now rearrange the mat of plants from time to time to make the task easier.

I still find it at odd angles from time to time, mainly when the tank light is out. It now seems to have mastered a good technique for feeding on the hornwort and algae. The first episode only lasted for a portion of one day and not the three days you have reported.

As your other fish are fine, I can think of little that can be done but wait and observe. Good luck.

 

[skjl47]

pleco behavior

Hello; Attached is a photo of my pleco up in the hornwort. I had changed some water the day before and had broken up the mat of hornwort. I suspect it could better get at the algae and was up with it's head in the stuff during the day with the light on.

Hope you fish is still ok.