Bloated Pleco. Is this something to worry about?

[ospy]

I got a question- I have 5 good sized plecos in this 55 gallon, and last night one of the bigger ones belly was very very bloated, all the other fish look good- this morning it appears as if he has trouble staying on the bottom . Is there something I can do? Any ideas ? Could he have eaten a goldfish ?

 

[Stab]

Bloated and has a trouble with boyancy? Hmmm... I'd say it must be some sort of a swimming bladder disorder. In some cases it is reversible, in others its not. I think one of the common treatments in a salt bath but I would definetely not recommend that with a pleco. Let me see what I can dig up for you and hopefully others will chime in too

 

[ospy]

Thanks stab, I really appreciate it.

 

[Stab]

One more thing... Is this a common pl*co we are talking about or one of the so called "fancy" species? Some are hardier than others and would determine type of treatment needed

 

[davo]

Sounds like some kind of bloat problem. What are your tank parameters. How big is good sized and what other tankmates?