Pleco death question

pennyg

Exodon
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2019
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Central Ohio
I just lost my 7 inch common plecostomus I have had for I think 4 years? It used to be in the 55g African cichlid tank but a few months ago I moved it to the 125g with my South American cichlids, 2 oscars, a red shoulder sev, a chocolate cichlid and a small Raph cat. I was out of town for the weekend but my son feeds my fish while I am away. I don't know if something went down over the weekend but I noticed algae building up when I got home last night. Usually my pleco keeps a tidy tank, also gets pleco wafers and zucchini for its diet. Anyway I thought I saw a whitish area on its upper lip last night but the tank was already in night time lighting so was hard to see. I planned on getting a better look after work today. My son though reported to me he found it dead in the tank around noon. I am mystified as to what caused it to die. I wouldn't think even a small injury would be a killer in only a few days. I just checked water. I usually do WC 40% on Sundays but haven't gotten a chance to yet this week so nitrates are 40 ppm, ammonia and nitrite are zero.
I can maybe see reddish place by the mouth parts which were not evident last night for sure. My son put the fish in the freezer so I am thawing it now to get a better look at its condition. I definitely didn't see any fins nipped or the like last night just the spot on the lip.
Can I get another plecostomus for the tank? Or is it just not a good place for one with my particular oscars? I never saw any aggressive behavior towards the pleco at any point but oscars can be... you know, oscars.
Any advice?
 

pennyg

Exodon
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2019
55
60
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54
Central Ohio
I wanted to add my oscars are only a year old and about the same length as the pleco, 7 inches. The chocolate and sev are slightly smaller. Not sure that matters
 

Rocksor

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2011
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San Diego
maybe it got spooked and ran the side of the tank really hard.

With a 125g and the current stocking, I wouldn't add anymore fish to the tank. It will be more than fully stocked when all fish reach adulthood.
 
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