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Why? I don't understand what caused his death.

I have had him for about a month. He was ~7 inches long and of the "common pleco" variety. I got him from a very good lfs that I have been doing business with for some time now. I had him in a 55 gal. I know you'll think this small but there were plans to upgrade in the future. He was the only pleco/algea eating species in the tank. Other fish include 3 very small pictuc cats, 2 small angels, and a shoal of 10 high fin black skirts.

Water parameters were good ph-7.4, ammonia-0, nitrites-0, nitrate-40ppm(a little high, yes but it was weekly water change time) temp-76f

Not alot of algea growing but I was supplementing with algea wafers.

The pleco was probably the "hardiest" fish in the tank. The others are still just fine no signs of stress or anything.

Any ideas?

maybe it was lack of food actually, because once the larger pleco (Sailfins, common, ect) reach about 6-7" they become scanvengers and pretty much ignore the algea growing on the rocks, glass ect ect

Daka<<<<

Wow! Are you sure? As I mentioned, I am supplementing with algea wafers. I put in 2 or 3 every other day or so.

did you see your pleco eat any of the wafers? sometimes they will prefer a more carnivorous diet like worms when they get a little bigger.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Yes, he was eating the wafers. Also, like I said there are 3 small pictus cats, 2 angles, and 10 black skirts. I have been feeding the hell out of all these guys. Flakes for the angles and skirts, sinking carniverous pellets for the cats and wafers for the pleco. He should of had plenty to eat. I am just not sure what it could have been.

Am I correct about him being pretty 'hardy' aren't the angels and skirts more sensitive then the pleco? I have no idea what it could be. He was active and seemed very healthy just a few days ago. I hadn't seen him all day yesterday so I got to looking for him and found him behind a rock already starting to decay.

Since most fish can be eaten by larger preditors, they may like birds, do everything they can to hide an illness, until it is too late to save them. Sometimes you just never know what caused the fish to die.

You almost lost me there Pug! I had to read your post twice.

I think I understand what you mean though. I just really would like to rule out the possiblity that I have done something wrong. So I can learn from this and not do it again.

I just really would like to rule out the possiblity that I have done something wrong. So I can learn from this and not do it again.

I understand that one

What did your plec look like, was he nice and solid? High, broad body? All I can think is that he may not have gotten enough food I know my 2 common plecs (around 8 inches) eat about 5 spirulina wafers a day (2 feedings) and that is swapped with zucchini at least once a week and they still scavenge around looking for more
Here's one of my guys on his favourite food

RustyBlade attached this image:

Well, after reading all of your replies and comments. I'm afraid I very well may have starved the poor guy to death. What a shame. I never would have thought that possible with all the food I was dumping in there. To answer the question above, Yes he looked very healthy. Now that I know this, let me ask you guys one more question.

Can overfeeding a pleco be unhealthy for them or just cause a problem with my tank? I guarantee I'll never starve one again.

Last edited by FISH MAISTRE at 14-Feb-2005 09:58

Woah, Rusty. Those plecs are true hypostomi. Nice find.

Okay, I'm finished morning the death of my fish and am in need of replacing my pleco that has passed. I think I would like to get a bristlenose pleco or two. In a 55 gal would two be too many? Any do's and don'ts on this species, I've never cared for bristlenose plecos.

2 should be fine. They like pumpkin and zucchini along with blood worms. Mine likes just about anything. Except the Golden Chinese Algae Eater] They don't get along too well. Just provide plenty of hidey holes. **Tiger

TigerAngel attached this image:

Since it isn't fully determined that starvation is the cause, remember to not overfeed the next pleco. Overfeed will cause a lot of harm to your tank and fish.

Bristlenoses are the work horse of a tank. They can clear a lot of algae in a couple of days. When I first bought a bristlenose I don't think the guy even sleep untill the algae was all gone. He was going all out.

This is why you need to feed them a well balanced diet of commerical foods such as wafer and pellets. Veggies are cheap and easily accepted.

Bristlenose are also "slow" growers. Don't except a record amount of growth compared to some other fish.

Two can do good in a 55 gal. Males might fight when in each other territories. If you only want to keep in order to keep more other fish, one would absolutely keep a 55 gal good and clean.

Last edited by openwater at 14-Feb-2005 19:01

Woah, Rusty. Those plecs are true hypostomi. Nice find

Thank you noodles I love them to bits!
It's very limited here in oz as to the plecs you can get but I'm still very happy with these guys

As openwater has said, it may not have been starvation? There are times that you can never really know why a fish has died which is the most frustrating time of a fish keepers life
I have a male and female BN and the male chases the female away from his home and food so even different sexes doesn't guarantee that they wont fight.
The 2 BNs should do well in your tank, provide logs on either side of the tank and let them sort out who wants which side and they'll be fine.