FishProfiles.com Message Forums

One of my choc plecos is way way fat! He belly is huge. He seems ok, he is resting right now but has been swimming about. The other pleco is full but not fat like the other one.
I had put some zucchini in the tank the other night and they did make pigs of themselves but that was over a day ago and he is still so fat. Should I be worried or is he just a pig?

Well, now he is sorta listing to one side. Not sure if he is constipated or just ate to much or what.

I turned the lights off and covered the tank for darkness so he is less stressed and maybe he just needs to take a nice dump?

I dont have alot of luck with Plecos. All the plecos I have had in the past only lasted a couple weeks and die. My other fish live fine and the water is fine so I dont know what to say. I hope this guy pulls thru. The other pleco looks totally normal. Any idea?

Could also be pregnant , you never know, but they do sometimes overfeed, either way, cease feeding it for a few days.

What has it been feeding on to date?

Any chance you ca post a pic of mr guts? One that includes the belly area will realy help.
The fact that you have lost plecs before is worrying, there might be a virus or bacterium, possibly even a byroduct in the foods offerred that may be killing them. Fish like plecs do have a few species specific diseases, and they are of course in the frontline of fish that will ingest intestinal worms and parasite cysts.

I will try to get a pic later. I have the tank covered and I did take a peek and fatso is now on the side of the tank sucking. I think he just ate to much as I did put the zuchinni in the tank and plus had wedged some algea wafers in the zuchinni. Other than that they eat algea and whatever the fish dont get.
The plecs I lost were all in another tank which is now bare and being recycled etc.
These are the first plecos in this tank. I only feed them the algea wafers and the zuchinni and as said whatever flake food they may find.

Oh, how old do they have to be to get pregnant? These plecos of mine are small. Only like 3 inches total.

Sadly I lost the fat pleco during the night.

I have come to the conclusion that the zuchinni is what has been killing my plecos. I know that people say to feed it to them but all the plecos I have had and that have died I have given zuchinni to. There is no other common denomonator with the deaths. 2 seperate tanks, all new wafers which are made specifically for plecos. My water is fine, my other fish are fine and yet the plecos die.
I still have one of the chocolates plecos left. I will see how he does and no more zuchinni.
By the way, the zuchinni I give is organic, no pesticides etc etc. I do not give the seeds either. I scoop them out.
Anyways a sad day. I really liked him. He was so active anad fun to watch.

Whats the temperature of that tank? Sometimes certain foods or combinations of foods can ferment in the gut and at certain temps can produce enough gas to cause organ compression and death.

Try cucumber instead of zucchini, theres less in it to ferment.

Water temp is at 78-79

That might be what caused it. His tummy looked like it was gonna explode.
The other pleco is still ok. His belly is a lil full lookin but nothing like the other one.
I tried a cuke but they didnt like it.
Thanks for the info. I still think if I try again I wont do the zuch.