MIA - Mr. Pleco

[Mr. Breeze]

I had a 3" Pleco that was over 5 years old. I can't find him anymore and he always came out for his cucumber.

I have a heavily planted tank, with driftwood and rocks. To try and find him would be a major disturbance to the landscape.

The question is, what are the considerations leaving him in the tank to decompose. I have a 29 gal tank with great filtration. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[Pleco11771]

Trust me dont even bother looking for missing pleco's I've torn down entire tanks, nothing, and he's there the next morning

 

[Mr. Breeze]

I know what your talking about. However, he struck me a little sluggish the last few days before he disappeared. Lifespan is about 5 years for the smaller species, right?

 

[malfist]

Decomposing fish will spike the ammonia. Just the same as anything else that decomposes in the tank, food included.

 

[LyndaB]

What other species do you have in the tank with him?

 

[Mr. Breeze]

angels, rasboras, platys, loaches, ottos, SAE's

 

[malfist]

Clown loaches are very sensitive to spikes in ammonia. I'm not sure about this, but I think a three inch fish is enough to be dangerous in a thirty gallon tank. When you smell the tank, does it smell bad?

 

[Mr. Breeze]

29 gal. Checked ammonia levels. They are ok. I do 25% wáter changes per week.