Help Please

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
No test kit, we take samples to the store to be tested. I guess because we have never had a problem at all with our tank we just never got a test kit. How often do you test your water at home? We are taking samples once a month, but twice in the last three weeks. I will transfer the pleco tonight. I just never dreamed it could be one of his tankmates since they have all gotten along for so long. By the way the catfish is not a synodontis catfish.
 
Kelly4476;1261896; said:
Thanks guys for all your quick replies. We took a sample of the water to be tested today and they said it looked good. We showed them pics of our digital camera and they (Jacks Aquarium) said they think it is just stress. I can't find my camera hook up plug to post pics but I will as soon as I find it. We did a water change, added salt and upped the temp to 82. The gar is in their with a pleco and a catfish (I forget what its actual name is). But they have all been in there together for 4-5 years. Could the pleco just now be causing problems? If so I will move him asap.

it is definitely the pleco, not water quality or stress in and of iteself...the slime sucking can start at any time, even with fishes that have been together for a long time. the first time this happened to me was with a longnose gar and common pleco that had been in a tank together for a looong time. it just started doing it one day and then didn't really stop. i've seen this behavior in syno cats as well.

the temp increase, increased frequency/volume of water changes, and salt will help the gar bounce back, but if the pleco remains with the gar, it will be of no use. good that you are planning on separating them :)

best of luck and keep us posted as to how the gar is doing--
--solomon
 
no, the plecos might just attack the gars any moment. it's not safe and it's recommended that they should be seperated
 
Weylin;1262855; said:
I have 2 pleco's with my gars no probs at all.. But then again each individual is differant...

definitely agree with xander on this, it can happen any time, and it only needs to happen once for the gar to die from the infection that can occur. i HIGHLY suggest separating the pleco from the gar, and since my incident with them and hearing about several others, have always advised against keeping plecos with gars--
--solomon
 
i keep a big plec w/ all my gar w/ no problems, but am always on the lookout for any bad behavior. i agree w/ solomon though...it does indeed sound like the pleco. i have also heard of this happening in the past. take the plec out and treat it as solomon said (raised temp, salt, water changes, etc...) hopefully things will be fine.
 
When i first got my gars.. They had fungus on them.. I used Terramycin capsules.. They were fine next morning.. Im not sure if u get it in the US..
 
I ve alwys had plecos ith everything, for years..BUT you have to watch out, because, as our friends here are saying, they start sucking from one day to the other and when they get the hang of it they will never stop again.
 
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