My Pleco looks like it's starving to death. Please help!

[bluegirl]

Hi I'm new here and desperate to find out how to save my big buddy. I've had him for about 6 years now and he's about 13 inches. I believe he is a common pleco but as there are so many kinds I can not be sure. He grew up in a 35 gallon tank and seemed very healthy but was getting too big, knocking everything in the tank over so in July I bought a nice 55gallon tank for him.

While initially setting up the tank I had some problems which in all my years of having fish I'd never experienced and I unfortunatly lost several fish. ( it flip flopped between green and milky water for months ). The water is now cristal clear and had tested normal in all paramiters when I took it for testing.

The tank has 2 whisper 10-30i filters, a heater that keeps the tank at 76, a bubbler all the decorations from the previous tank except the live plants which didn't survive the initial poor water conditions. And this new tank has different lighting. (This one came with LED lights but I used to use a full spectrum tube light). I'm feeding him the same food he always loved ( sinking wafers mostly) and his surviving tank mates include one bala shark about 5 inches, a small red barb & 2large angels. They get along well. Nothing has changed in his routine but he just won't eat. I used to b able to hand feed him n now he's like a floating skeleton he's all sunk in everywhere! I don't want to loose him. If anyone can please help me I'd appreciate it.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Well sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but a55 is too small for a 13 inch fish, seeing as how it's only 12 inches deep. Also, balsa sharks should be kept in groups. If I'm wrong, anyone feel free to correct me.

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[bluegirl]

My tank is more than 12 inches deep. N I had a pair of bala sharks but his partner died. I plan on getting a replacement after I've solved the problem with my Pleco. I don't feel its right to put new fish in the tank until its problem free.

 

[shark21]

Sorry about the Pleco...maybe old age? ...if you had him for 6 yrs who knows how old the fish really is? hope he gets better... do you have driftwood in there for him? Unfortunately your tank is way to small for even one bala...they grow 14-18" and a are extremely active fish...that shark is going to become extremely aggressive and hostile the bigger he gets...I have 3 right now....they are great fish...but the older they get he more they terrorise the rest of my fish...especially My large Angel...constantly attacking her...I have a 90g. And its not even close to enough room for bala sharks! Gonna have to get rid of mine soon or at least a couple of them! Don't want to but I have no choice...just trying to give you a heads up on the balas because I am going through it right now!

 

[bluegirl]

Thanks for the heads up on the bala. When I bought them the pet store told me they would b fine in my old set up which was much smaller but I found out that info was wrong from a relative a few months ago. I wish pet stores were more honest about the animals they sell. He seems nice now but if he gets mean I too will be looking to relocate him. I wonder if I should even get him a buddy then. I don't know how hard it will be to relocate 2.

 

[shark21]

No don't add more..It will def. Make the situation worse in the end! They are schooling fish so they do like to have other sharks or fish around but they are just so fast and so active adding another bala to a 55g would be so wrong!..I agree pet stores should make it more clear on how serious these fish are long term! I mean people should do their research but I feel as though they shouldn't be sold in basic chain pet stores; just speciality LFS!..Anyways enjoy him while you can I love mine !

 

[enrgizerbunny]

My tank is more than 12 inches deep. N I had a pair of bala sharks but his partner died. I plan on getting a replacement after I've solved the problem with my Pleco. I don't feel its right to put new fish in the tank until its problem free.

55 breeder?

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[bluegirl]

I'm not sure if its considered a breeder or not

 

[wvusexybeast]

Try stress zyme. Maybe he's stressed.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

I'm not sure if its considered a breeder or not

If your dimensions are 48x21x18 you have a 75, if they're 48x21x12, you have a 55

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[bluegirl]

It was listed as a 55g but I just measured it n it was 48x 21x 13. I never did the math I just assumed it was was it was supposed to be

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Even still, that's not really enough room for him to effectively turn around without touching glass on both ends. I'd be watching Craig's list for something bigger in the near future.

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[Jmunroe]

Tank is too small now and previous tank was too small. He's spent his entire life living in his own filth and now this what happens. Change at least 50% of the water every other day. Maybe he'll feel better but I think his life has been shortened by his living conditions. What was your water change schedule when he was in the other tank over the last 6 years?

 

[bluegirl]

Well I appreciate the advice but he doesn't seem to have a hard time swimming around. And I'm pretty sure a 50% water change would do more harm than good as it would destroy the ballance of bacteria in my tank n stress out my fish. I honestly think it was the stress of changing his tank n doing all the water changes due to the cycling failure I had when I got him this new tank that cause his eatting prob in the first place. He was fat n active in his small tank. Hardly swimming in filth. I've been back to his old cleaning schedule of 15%-25% water change through substraight vacuuming once a week now for a month or two n last night I saw my buddy finally nibbling on some zucchini n he's been very active the last few days. I'm so excited to see him on the mend!

 

[Jmunroe]

Your very misinformed. Changing large amounts of water will not hurt your beneficial bacteria. Where people get this information from I don't know but it is extremely wrong. Your bacteria is mostly (98%) in your filter and the rest is attached to objects in the tank and substrate. You've kept to big of a fish in too small of a tank with very little water changes. Sorry to sound harsh just trying to give you the correct info with out sugar coating it. You need to do some research.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

+1 few bacteria live in the water, they stick to objects

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[HeatherW]

just jumping in here on the tail end of this, but did you say that you thought you had a 55 gallon tank and it is actually 70 or something? could this be simply that you haven't treated your water correctly? if you are treating for a 55 there may be chlorine etc in there. Chlorine and stuff doesn't show up on the tests that I run.

 

[Hobgob]

Well I appreciate the advice but he doesn't seem to have a hard time swimming around. And I'm pretty sure a 50% water change would do more harm than good as it would destroy the ballance of bacteria in my tank n stress out my fish. I honestly think it was the stress of changing his tank n doing all the water changes due to the cycling failure I had when I got him this new tank that cause his eatting prob in the first place. He was fat n active in his small tank. Hardly swimming in filth. I've been back to his old cleaning schedule of 15%-25% water change through substraight vacuuming once a week now for a month or two n last night I saw my buddy finally nibbling on some zucchini n he's been very active the last few days. I'm so excited to see him on the mend!

Take advice!

 

[Hobgob]

It was listed as a 55g but I just measured it n it was 48x 21x 13. I never did the math I just assumed it was was it was supposed to be

It is 55. You probably measured the outside of the tank..

 

[enrgizerbunny]

just jumping in here on the tail end of this, but did you say that you thought you had a 55 gallon tank and it is actually 70 or something? could this be simply that you haven't treated your water correctly? if you are treating for a 55 there may be chlorine etc in there. Chlorine and stuff doesn't show up on the tests that I run.

There was some questioning as to what size tank she had when she claimed it to be a 55g, but said it was deeper than 12in, OP has a 55 and a fish that has already outgrown it.

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