Pleco keeps going to the surface

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SemperFish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 25, 2007
743
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Hubert, NC
I took down my big tank and put my remaining fish into a smaller 40g hex tank. Since the move my pleco has been going to the surface and grabbing air alot. Is this a reaction to a low level of dissolved oxygen in the water or a symptom of something else? The tank is a bit overstocked right now as I am still trying to get rid of a few of the fish. If its the crowding then I will not worry as it will soon be resolved but I want a little lead time if this might be a symptom of something else. He is eating fine and looks healthy, just has this new behavior. Oh, hes about 10" long and a common pleco I think. To be honest I dont know much as far as the different varieties of plecos
 
hey lovely.
mine used to do that if my filter wasnt giving out enough oxygen (hint that it needed cleaning) try an extra air pump, should do the trick :-)
x
 
Hmmm... I have an airstone in there. Maybe I will lower the water level a bit and make the filter intakes splash a little and cause more surface agitation.

Oh and Chloe, I had no idea you were a Jedi!
 
chloe;4493266; said:
hey lovely.
mine used to do that if my filter wasnt giving out enough oxygen (hint that it needed cleaning) try an extra air pump, should do the trick :-)
x


Exactly. Common plecos like fast moving water. I have one that is about 8"-9", in a 75 gal that is running a Fluval 405, AC110 and AC70. Lots of water movement. :headbang2
 
Well I have an airstone and a XP3 and a XP4 hooked up. Could it be that now that he's in a hex tank the water flow is more vertical than horizontal? I just serviced my filtration so I guess I will see what I can do about the water flow. Maybe throw a powerhead in there?
 
can u not tilt the out tube up?

lol im not. the last show i did a few weeks ago one of the men came along with loads of light sabres....great fun...didnt even know u could get them double ended!!!
 
SemperFish;4493285; said:
Well I have an airstone and a XP3 and a XP4 hooked up. Could it be that now that he's in a hex tank the water flow is more vertical than horizontal? I just serviced my filtration so I guess I will see what I can do about the water flow. Maybe throw a powerhead in there?


This is starting to make me think it's something else. That's a lot of flow in a 40 gallon tank. There should be plenty of oxygen. Maybe too much? Do you ever see him lift his mouth and release air, almost like a "burp"? Releasing some air that obviously floats to the surface? I'm confused....:(
 
I am going to experiment with my water flow later today.

What kind of shows do you do Chloe?
 
geronimo69;4493304; said:
This is starting to make me think it's something else. That's a lot of flow in a 40 gallon tank. There should be plenty of oxygen. Maybe too much? Do you ever see him lift his mouth and release air, almost like a "burp"? Releasing some air that obviously floats to the surface? I'm confused....:(

I just saw him do it. He went to the top, gulped air and then before he reattached to the side he burped out a bubble. He's one of the few fish I plan on taking with me when i move so im a little concerned.
 
Common Pleco? I have several. They all do it once in a while. I wouldn't worry to much about it unless he does it several times an hour. In my experience this behavior is normal.
Hope this helps you,
Chris
 
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