My pleco getting white discoloration, please help

[Trucker84]

My pleco has been getting these patches of light discoloration. it seems to be getting worse. what do you think the problem is? what can i do to fix it?

 

[WyldFya]

Stress, give him somewhere to hide.

 

[snakeheader]

stress he needs some caves and such

 

[snakeheader]

also what size tank is that looks kinda small might just be the pic though

 

[davo]

Stress... (or mood, although you could say that's the same thing). Hiding places, water quality, diet?

 

[Trucker84]

he is over 12" so i dont know where he could hide. the tank is a 125gal. my nitrates are pretty high. I've been changing 20gals every day and i added a nitrate remover, but im not seeing any change. What can a pleco that big hide in?

 

[davo]

a piece of tubing? make some slate caves? anything... if your nitrates are high, that could well be the problem.

 

[WyldFya]

he is over 12" so i dont know where he could hide. the tank is a 125gal. my nitrates are pretty high. I've been changing 20gals every day and i added a nitrate remover, but im not seeing any change. What can a pleco that big hide in?

A large piece of driftwood is the best. Anything to hide in is better than nothing.

 

[snakeheader]

I used biggg driftwood for mine as well as some old waterline bricks

 

[Morledzep]

the cave dweller lives in a big white rock in the back of the tank by my desk.. he's about 9 or 10 inches.