Pleco cataracts???? Help??

[Plecostemous]

My pleco was recently moved to a new tank, and it is about 18 inches long. He is now in a 55 gal(common pleco) and is 14 years old. I have heard a lot about aging fish getting cataracts, but im not sure. He seems to be not moving much, and mainly moving him to give him more space and recovery from some bad finrot in a tank that had nitrates at 90 ppm.
Parameters: pH 8.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Temp set to 76 on heater, filter with strong current, no carbon.

Ammonia was seen a few days ago, but it appears tank is finishing cycle.

 

[kno4te]

Hope just some clean water, rest and reduced stress and it’ll be active again.

Eye changes hopefully cause of poor water quality in the prior tank. Should return to normal with clean water.

 

[Jackson]

18” in a 55 gallon?

What was it in before if that is giving it more room?

 

[Deadliestviper7]

18” in a 55 gallon?

What was it in before if that is giving it more room?

Really needs a bigger tank

 

[Plecostemous]

18” in a 55 gallon?

What was it in before if that is giving it more room?

My bad guys, I actually measured him, hes only 12”, lol. I do agree he needs a bigger tank, but saying hes 13 years old means hes done pretty well.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

My bad guys, I actually measured him, hes only 12”, lol. I do agree he needs a bigger tank, but saying hes 13 years old means hes done pretty well.

No kidding I've seen three year old plecos get to 3 feet, then also seen a over 29 year old who hasn't even got to twelve inches.

 

[Plecostemous]

No kidding I've seen three year old plecos get to 3 feet, then also seen a over 29 year old who hasn't even got to twelve inches.

Honestly it seems pretty random lol. This was the first fish i ever got. Didnt even know what cycling was until last year. Probably put him through many rounds of ammonia poisoning. Hardy fish they are..

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Honestly it seems pretty random lol. This was the first fish i ever got. Didnt even know what cycling was until last year. Probably put him through many rounds of ammonia poisoning. Hardy fish they are..

No kidding, sometimes they survive the winters here in az when people release them

 

[Plecostemous]

No kidding, sometimes they survive the winters here in az when people release them

Obviously its a little warmer there than in minnesota but that would be a crazy temp change going into a lake/ pond! These guys can handle so many sicknesses and so much more stress than probably any other aquarium fish. Pretty sure ive had like 12-13 rounds of fish, but theres always only one survivor. My dang pleco. Obviously I wouldn’t, but these fish probably have a ton of edible meat considering how big they get. Just crazy to think of how much they go through lol