My pleco disappeared... - Aquarium Advice

Criptos · 08-16-2005, 08:20 PM

Okay well 2 days ago I bought a bristlenose pleco, and well I searched around for him last night, and figured he was hiding. So then today I still did not see him, so I lifted all the ornaments he could be hiding in. and looked for him to come darting out but he didn't... You can see his tank mates in my sig, and there has been no sign of him carpet surfing, unless a cat ate him once he jumped out....

Jchillin · 08-16-2005, 08:32 PM

A missing pleco is not uncommon and your efforts in trying to find him are worthy. He's in there somewhere...probably found a great hiding place that you haven't considered yet. Remember, they also have the ability to change their colors to match their surroundings.

I thought I had lost my sailfin Cliff. I searched for an entire day. I even pulled up the big piece of driftwood...not behind it..hmmm. I then noticed a strange piece of wood that I hadn't noticed before sorta hanging oddly. It was him.

I would doubt that any of his tankmates could have done anything and unless your tank has a very large opening, he wouldn't or couldn't have jumped out.

Just a thought...was 2 days ago the last time you actually saw him? Have you tested your water for an ammonia spike?

**Devilishturtles** · 08-16-2005, 08:33 PM

They can elude even the trickiest pleco hunters.

Search for him after lights out. You may have a better chance of seeing him if he is still in there. They are nocturnal, and it's quite common to never see them during the day. I don't see mine hardly ever.

Otherwise, sorry for your loss, if he is indeed gone.

TankGirl · 08-16-2005, 08:39 PM

I'll join in and agree that they can hide very well, even inside a decoration that you lift out. I have taken structures completely out of the tank for rearranging, left them out for 10-15 minutes, only to find that the pleco was in there the whole time, hanging on for dear life!

Criptos · 08-16-2005, 08:40 PM

I just checked for ammonia and it was ) then decided to pick up the treasure chest in my tank and lookinto it more carefully and he was inside, but since it's dark in there i could not see him the first time. So all is good. and Artbart the pleco lives.

talloulou · 08-16-2005, 08:52 PM

Jchillin · 08-16-2005, 08:55 PM

[acronym:221585f49a="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:221585f49a]...amazingly adept hider's wouldn't you agree? Glad to hear this turned out well.

Bubble_B0y · 08-16-2005, 09:06 PM

bristlenose are the cutest fish!!!

they scurry and move soooooooo quickly !!

1 minute he is on the left side of the tank....the next second he is on the other side !!

**QTOFFER** · 08-16-2005, 09:26 PM

I caught one of my albino BN plecs hiding inside a crack in a piece of driftwood. If she had normal coloration, I would never have seen her!

Puriti · 08-16-2005, 09:28 PM

I'll have to tell my co-worker that lol she can't find hers either X3

08-16-2005, 08:20 PM	#1
Criptos Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 99 Images: 1	My pleco disappeared... Okay well 2 days ago I bought a bristlenose pleco, and well I searched around for him last night, and figured he was hiding. So then today I still did not see him, so I lifted all the ornaments he could be hiding in. and looked for him to come darting out but he didn't... You can see his tank mates in my sig, and there has been no sign of him carpet surfing, unless a cat ate him once he jumped out.... __________________ 55 [acronym:2f373c668e="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:2f373c668e] 10 Zebra Danios 10 Glowlight Tetras 3 Angels 2 Red Flame Dwarf Gouramis 2 Neon Blue Dwarf Gouramis MORE COMING SOON

08-16-2005, 08:32 PM	#2
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	A missing pleco is not uncommon and your efforts in trying to find him are worthy. He's in there somewhere...probably found a great hiding place that you haven't considered yet. Remember, they also have the ability to change their colors to match their surroundings. I thought I had lost my sailfin Cliff. I searched for an entire day. I even pulled up the big piece of driftwood...not behind it..hmmm. I then noticed a strange piece of wood that I hadn't noticed before sorta hanging oddly. It was him. I would doubt that any of his tankmates could have done anything and unless your tank has a very large opening, he wouldn't or couldn't have jumped out. Just a thought...was 2 days ago the last time you actually saw him? Have you tested your water for an ammonia spike? __________________ _________________________________

08-16-2005, 08:39 PM	#4
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	I'll join in and agree that they can hide very well, even inside a decoration that you lift out. I have taken structures completely out of the tank for rearranging, left them out for 10-15 minutes, only to find that the pleco was in there the whole time, hanging on for dear life! __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

08-16-2005, 08:40 PM	#5
Criptos Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 99 Images: 1	I just checked for ammonia and it was ) then decided to pick up the treasure chest in my tank and lookinto it more carefully and he was inside, but since it's dark in there i could not see him the first time. So all is good. and Artbart the pleco lives. __________________ 55 [acronym:2f373c668e="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:2f373c668e] 10 Zebra Danios 10 Glowlight Tetras 3 Angels 2 Red Flame Dwarf Gouramis 2 Neon Blue Dwarf Gouramis MORE COMING SOON

08-16-2005, 08:52 PM	#6
talloulou Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 2,092 Images: 17	:P __________________ http://talloulou.smugmug.com/

08-16-2005, 08:55 PM	#7
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	[acronym:221585f49a="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:221585f49a]...amazingly adept hider's wouldn't you agree? Glad to hear this turned out well. __________________ _________________________________

08-16-2005, 09:06 PM	#8
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	bristlenose are the cutest fish!!! they scurry and move soooooooo quickly !! 1 minute he is on the left side of the tank....the next second he is on the other side !!

08-16-2005, 09:26 PM	#9
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,701 Images: 30	I caught one of my albino BN plecs hiding inside a crack in a piece of driftwood. If she had normal coloration, I would never have seen her!

08-16-2005, 09:28 PM	#10
Puriti Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,596	I'll have to tell my co-worker that lol she can't find hers either X3

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