[AquaticLife] Questions about my pleco
How old was he? How big was he when you added him to your tank?
You would probably get more/better info by posting in the PlecoFanatics forums but to continue the discussion here… it’s good that you were diligent with your weekly PWC’s.
Were you vacuuming the gravel with each PWC?
I’m just trying to go over everything to see if we can hit on something.
Was the cichlid tank filled with rocks?
Did you blow out the detritus from the cracks/crevices of the rocks prior to doing PWC’s?
While your test results may have been fine, we do not have tests for bacteria levels that may be forming in excess detritus or mulm that might build up in/under decorations.
Was he getting enough to eat? An 18″ pleco is an eating machine. I know my last common pleco, that grew to 10″ in my 65G before I rehomed him, kept the tank spotless but also ate voraciously on everything else that I fed him (algae thins, fresh veggies, the driftwood, etc.) They aren’t the most astute fish in a tank so I know the cichlids would have beat him to any food unless special measures were taken to feed him.
Which reminds me, did you have driftwood in the tank? Most pleco’s (and definitely Common Plecos) need wood in their diets.
Once again, I’m just brainstorming here since you asked what I thought might have caused his illness and death.
Lenny Vasbinder Fish Blog - http://GoldLenny.blogspot.com
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
