A few night ago out walking my dog I found that a big Pleco had jumped out of one of my fish ponds and was lying in the plants. He was rock hard and clearly dead, but I know that plecos are air breathers, so I took a chance and placed him in a potted plant in very shallow water. (He was floating) About an hour later I checked up on him and he was MOVING! By morning, He was back to his old self. I'll never assume a pleco is dead again.