missing pleco : ( - Aquarium Advice

leah_fishies · 07-13-2008, 07:14 PM

Hey guys- I hope its ok to post here, I was wondering if anyone could help at all. ..I have a coldwater tank (5 goldfish, fantails etc). And I recently bought a little pleco (a real small one, say an inch long at the most), But I haven't seen him for over a week and half now. I've lifted up the two logs in there and looked all around but no sign, I went through a little of the sand with a small net but no sign, hasnt been on the walls/glass or plants and I've tried turning the lights off and searching/waiting- no sign either.

Would he be hiding under the sand at all, where I couldnt see him? ..or, could the fish have eaten him at all?? (there's no bones, and the waters perfectly clean). ..he also used to stay on the filter for the first couple of weeks and it just seems like all of a sudden he's dissappeared on me...or found a new place to rest.

Any ideas at all? I'd really appreciate any help at all. Thanks so much X X X

Sum22 · 07-13-2008, 07:18 PM

did you check the filter in case it got sucked up?

**Zagz** · 07-14-2008, 12:55 AM

Welcome to AA! I second checking the filter. Depending on what kind of filter he may have gotten sucked up. If by chance he did perish, the goldies would have eaten the remains. Depending on the pleco, they are tropical and most plecos should not be kept in a coldwater tank.

leah_fishies · 07-14-2008, 08:13 AM

aww no, I checked the filter a million times (especially because I knew he was on there a lot previously). Definitely not on or sucked in there : (

And nope, he was definitely a cold water pleco too. ..If the fish did eat him, I would have seen them wouldn't i? Its not a big tank, and I would have quessed the pleco would have been floating around first? ...Do you know how long/how quick they could have eaten him (if they did). (i.e, do you think they could have done it over night or something?)

Thanks soo much for helping with this, I'm soo confused about it all x x x

Retaks · 07-14-2008, 08:22 AM

They could have ate him in a few hours or less depending on how big the goldfish are. I would give it time though. They are masters at hiding. I had one i would only get to see it once every 3-4 weeks. I never did figure out where it was hiding but i woke up one morning and there was just a head floating in the tank.

Tifta · 07-14-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retaks

They could have ate him in a few hours or less depending on how big the goldfish are. I would give it time though. They are masters at hiding. I had one i would only get to see it once every 3-4 weeks. I never did figure out where it was hiding but i woke up one morning and there was just a head floating in the tank.

ewww! poor little fella

Retaks · 07-14-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifta

ewww! poor little fella

Theres always a risk like that when you have Piranhas. He lived for 2 years with them fine then one day all that was left was his head.

**An t-iasg** · 07-14-2008, 11:09 AM

Have you checked your water parameters? If the pleco died, there would most likely be an ammonia spike. If the parameters are fine, then most likely he is hiding. Plecos are extremely good at hiding. You could try dropping a zucchini in to see if that lures him out. Boil a zucchini slice for a minute or two until it is softened. Cool, and then put in the tank. He shouldn't be able to resist a treat like that! You could use a veggie clip to hold it down. I used to thread a nylon fishing line through the zucchini with small fishing weights on the ends of the line. Remove the zucchini after about 20-24 hours so it doesn't foul the tank.

Tifta · 07-14-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retaks

Theres always a risk like that when you have Piranhas. He lived for 2 years with them fine then one day all that was left was his head.

Well that explains just the head. lol

leah_fishies · 07-14-2008, 11:32 AM

aww thats a great idea! yeah I'll definitely try that! Thank you <3

..yeah I've read that before about the ammonia, I did a water change a couple of days ago though (only 1/3rd of the water). Dont suppose it'd still show up would it?

Also, do you think he'd hide under just sand?? Where I couldnt see him? or under a couple of small stones (around 2x2inch). I thought they only laid on top/next to stones and sand. To get under the stones he'd have to dig under the sand.

07-13-2008, 07:14 PM	#1
leah_fishies Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	missing pleco : ( Hey guys- I hope its ok to post here, I was wondering if anyone could help at all. ..I have a coldwater tank (5 goldfish, fantails etc). And I recently bought a little pleco (a real small one, say an inch long at the most), But I haven't seen him for over a week and half now. I've lifted up the two logs in there and looked all around but no sign, I went through a little of the sand with a small net but no sign, hasnt been on the walls/glass or plants and I've tried turning the lights off and searching/waiting- no sign either. Would he be hiding under the sand at all, where I couldnt see him? ..or, could the fish have eaten him at all?? (there's no bones, and the waters perfectly clean). ..he also used to stay on the filter for the first couple of weeks and it just seems like all of a sudden he's dissappeared on me...or found a new place to rest. Any ideas at all? I'd really appreciate any help at all. Thanks so much X X X

07-14-2008, 12:55 AM	#3
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 11,337 Images: 92	Welcome to AA! I second checking the filter. Depending on what kind of filter he may have gotten sucked up. If by chance he did perish, the goldies would have eaten the remains. Depending on the pleco, they are tropical and most plecos should not be kept in a coldwater tank. __________________ ----------- My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

07-14-2008, 11:09 AM	#8
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 7,157 Images: 30	Have you checked your water parameters? If the pleco died, there would most likely be an ammonia spike. If the parameters are fine, then most likely he is hiding. Plecos are extremely good at hiding. You could try dropping a zucchini in to see if that lures him out. Boil a zucchini slice for a minute or two until it is softened. Cool, and then put in the tank. He shouldn't be able to resist a treat like that! You could use a veggie clip to hold it down. I used to thread a nylon fishing line through the zucchini with small fishing weights on the ends of the line. Remove the zucchini after about 20-24 hours so it doesn't foul the tank. __________________

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07-13-2008, 07:18 PM	#2
Sum22 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 201	did you check the filter in case it got sucked up?

07-14-2008, 08:13 AM	#4
leah_fishies Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	aww no, I checked the filter a million times (especially because I knew he was on there a lot previously). Definitely not on or sucked in there : ( And nope, he was definitely a cold water pleco too. ..If the fish did eat him, I would have seen them wouldn't i? Its not a big tank, and I would have quessed the pleco would have been floating around first? ...Do you know how long/how quick they could have eaten him (if they did). (i.e, do you think they could have done it over night or something?) Thanks soo much for helping with this, I'm soo confused about it all x x x

07-14-2008, 08:22 AM	#5
Retaks Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: SEPA Posts: 74	They could have ate him in a few hours or less depending on how big the goldfish are. I would give it time though. They are masters at hiding. I had one i would only get to see it once every 3-4 weeks. I never did figure out where it was hiding but i woke up one morning and there was just a head floating in the tank.

07-14-2008, 11:32 AM	#10
leah_fishies Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	aww thats a great idea! yeah I'll definitely try that! Thank you <3 ..yeah I've read that before about the ammonia, I did a water change a couple of days ago though (only 1/3rd of the water). Dont suppose it'd still show up would it? Also, do you think he'd hide under just sand?? Where I couldnt see him? or under a couple of small stones (around 2x2inch). I thought they only laid on top/next to stones and sand. To get under the stones he'd have to dig under the sand.