Pleco issue

[bkiggy]

I've had my boy 1.5 yrs old. 6" albino lemon pleco
He will lay on his back ??
Breathing but it's weird....
27g cube tank
PH 6.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
NitrAte +/- 10

 

[Cynic]

Fish lying on their back, with a few exceptions (Here's looking at you clown loaches -.-), is normally a bloody terrible sign.

The obvious value out of place is your PH which is a little low. Is that your normal PH?

Also what other fish are in the tank?

 

[bkiggy]

That is normal PH. 1/4 of the tank is driftwood which makes the PH low. Has alway been like that. I have never been able to make it go up.
8 Corydora , lace catfish, Betta, and 3 Australian rainbows
All acting fine
- I have always done 40% WC every week too for 2 years.

 

[Brookster123]

Fish lying on their back, with a few exceptions (Here's looking at you clown loaches -.-), is normally a bloody terrible sign. The obvious value out of place is your PH which is a little low. Is that your normal PH? Also what other fish are in the tank?

exception also being Pleco's..

 

[Cynic]

exception also being Pleco's..

Oh ok, I've never seen a pleco lie on their back so if this is usual behaviour please ignore me

 

[Brookster123]

Ohh man, update, I just discovered my Pleco upside down and dead... I have no idea why.. I have definitely heard of Pleco's lying upside down before...

 

[jestes]

Is he under a piece of the driftwood? Plecos do this fairly often if they feel comfortable and are resting.

 

[bkiggy]

Ohh man, update, I just discovered my Pleco upside down and dead... I have no idea why.. I have definitely heard of Pleco's lying upside down before...

Sorry your pleco died ;(
- mine only does this in a log. He will go in, and suck along the top, and let go, and lay there in his back.
Just weird
--- thank for all the feedback

 

[Brookster123]

I'm bummed, it was my first Pleco, only 5 months old.. I think it's my fault too..

 

[bkiggy]

I went through 4 before I got one to live

 

[Brookster123]

I went through 4 before I got one to live

really?? They're suppose to be tough? Why did yours croak?

 

[jestes]

Where did y'all get them from? Petsmart doses Quick Cure after getting shipments in, and plecos don't do well with that.

 

[Brookster123]

My Lfs, not a big box store, I have a theory why mine died though.. I pulled a fake plant out the night before, stupid me didn't do a good gravel vac after, think he got a rotten hit of something..

 

[bkiggy]

I get mine at LFS , albino pleco's are not as hardy IMO. But I Looooove the albinos. I feel bad tho, they typically do not live as long. Pleco's do not live if quick cure or paraguard is used. Mine have died from those.....

 

[Brookster123]

Hey bkiggy, I just checked your profile! Where in mass? What Lfs?

 

[bkiggy]

Springfield.
- I have 3 around me. Dave's , Aquatic Wildlife, School of Fish. Usually the places I go....

 

[Brookster123]

Nice! I'm in Boston, I go to uncle Ned's fish factory in millis..