Hmm Pleco is jumping....any ideas?

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FishnFoe

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 30, 2010
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Bend Oregon
So for the last two nights my 8" sailfin pleco has been "jumping" or rushing the surface all of a sudden...once he tried to swim right up the filter:screwy:!

Anyone else had this happen b4 or have any idea's what could be the problem?
I checked the water and everything is A-ok.....

I have noticed that his right eye is a tad cloudy and he hasn't been as responsive on that side...think that might have something to do with it?


Any help is appreciated,

Thanks
 
Oh ya.....boiling my piece of bog wood for him trying to get as much tannin out as i can ...think im on hour 8 right now ....*mutters*
 
Is he "gulping" air when he gets to the surface?
If so, low oxygenation may be the problem, that or excess ammonia/nitrite.
 
First suspect would be water quality, do a water change asap. More info pls. tank size, stock list, filtration, water changes/how often, ect...
 
I've had this problem in the past with a few different species of Panaque. This is usually only an issue with fish that are new to an aquarium, and as they settle in, they usually settle down. I would definitely make sure you've got ample oxygenation. Don't be afraid to drop the water level a few inches until he's settled down a bit, and reduce traffic around the tank to a minimum.

FYI, depending on the type of driftwood you've got in that tank, boiling isnt going to do much for removing tannins. It's good if you're trying to kill off any potential parasites, though. IMO and experience, tannins do nothing but good for your pleco.
 
I had a common that would always do that. he would stop after a big water change. i always thought of it as him telling me that my water conditions were not pristine
 
Soooooo..... after three days of review on him he is definatly "gulping" the air ....Iv changed water as per my normal once a week 8-9gal*29 gal tank*....checked all the water and it tests out just fine.

He is typically making a run every 20min or so ....not always on time but its definatly has me a lil worried.
As far as O2- I have 3" stream running from my filter and a air line running down right next to his log.
All the other fish are never seen sitting up towards the surface with any kind of regularity.
Only thing I have done differently was feed him cucumber and a chunk of pumpkin. Both a first from my experience.

I have to re-iterate if I failed to earlier that this tank and fish were both adopted from a family who "ran out of time" for them. *sad face*
When i got the tank it was extremely dirty and unkept with almost no filtration.

I wonder if he just has a habit formed from the past?
 
The water tests fine...do you have your own test kit, or do you take it somewhere? What are the exact results? What else is in the tank? I have concerns about any 8" pleco in 30g of water with other fish. I would probably be changing more water, pending test results. The cloudy eye is definitely indicating some problem, somewhere...usually water quality.
 
API Master freshwater kit/Quick dip 6-1 test strips
PH-7.5-7.6
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5 ppm
and of course 0 chlorine
Alkalinity 80(moderate)
Total Hardness 75+(soft)


PS.(And yes I know he would LOVE a larger tank, feel free to donate any extra 55 gal+ tanks. My daughter will be extremely happy.)
P.S.S ( Did I mention my birthday is dec 7th? )
P.S.S.S ( Please???? )

Other fish, 2 barbs(1.5") 2 tetra's(1" and 2") 1 african butterfly chilid(3") and 1 Aulonocara stuartgranti "Maulana Bi-Color 500" or African Peacock chilid(3").
 
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