Pleco's keep dying

[mrtoofay]

If you are buying them from the lfs, there's a big chance they were in bad shape to start off with. Healthy commons are very hardy. That's why they are taking over whatever rivers n lakes they are real eased into. Try these few things.

1. Go to the lfs a few times. Keep track of the plecos. Ask the owner how long they've been in and buy them after you've seen them in the store for at least 3 weeks.

2. Most lfs would of this for more expensive fish. Some may not do this for a common. Ask them to feed them while you pick. Pick one with full belly, no sunken eyes, and ones that attack the food.

3. Make sure you go through the proper quarantine and acclimation process. Get a cheap 10g tank and quarantine them properly. Commons usually come in to the lfs in very poor shape riddled with disease, parasite, worms.

4. Try a different lfs.



Of course make sure your water parameter is in check. If your other fish are doing ok, a healthy common will most likely have no problem regardless I'd the parameter, unless we are talking brackish. But a stressed, diseased, worm infested common needs almost perfect water to survive. Other than feeders, they are one of the most neglected n abused fish out there.

 

[Charney]

If you are buying them from the lfs, there's a big chance they were in bad shape to start off with. Healthy commons are very hardy. That's why they are taking over whatever rivers n lakes they are real eased into. Try these few things.

1. Go to the lfs a few times. Keep track of the plecos. Ask the owner how long they've been in and buy them after you've seen them in the store for at least 3 weeks.

2. Most lfs would of this for more expensive fish. Some may not do this for a common. Ask them to feed them while you pick. Pick one with full belly, no sunken eyes, and ones that attack the food.

3. Make sure you go through the proper quarantine and acclimation process. Get a cheap 10g tank and quarantine them properly. Commons usually come in to the lfs in very poor shape riddled with disease, parasite, worms.

4. Try a different lfs.



Of course make sure your water parameter is in check. If your other fish are doing ok, a healthy common will most likely have no problem regardless I'd the parameter, unless we are talking brackish. But a stressed, diseased, worm infested common needs almost perfect water to survive. Other than feeders, they are one of the most neglected n abused fish out there.

I agree for the most part but don't forget about old tank syndrome. Fish can adapt to poor conditions and do quite well. Whenever you add a new fish it will die.

what is your pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

 

[Drstrangelove]

Is the pleco in the same tank as the clown loaches you have? What other fish do you have in the tank? Are you actually seeing the pleco eat?

Does the pleco have a place to hide?

At what temp do you keep the tank?

How bright is the tank and how long are the lights off?

What size plecos are you getting and how large are the other fish?

 

[robnin2002]

If you are buying them from the lfs, there's a big chance they were in bad shape to start off with. Healthy commons are very hardy. That's why they are taking over whatever rivers n lakes they are real eased into. Try these few things.

1. Go to the lfs a few times. Keep track of the plecos. Ask the owner how long they've been in and buy them after you've seen them in the store for at least 3 weeks.

2. Most lfs would of this for more expensive fish. Some may not do this for a common. Ask them to feed them while you pick. Pick one with full belly, no sunken eyes, and ones that attack the food.

3. Make sure you go through the proper quarantine and acclimation process. Get a cheap 10g tank and quarantine them properly. Commons usually come in to the lfs in very poor shape riddled with disease, parasite, worms.

4. Try a different lfs.



Of course make sure your water parameter is in check. If your other fish are doing ok, a healthy common will most likely have no problem regardless I'd the parameter, unless we are talking brackish. But a stressed, diseased, worm infested common needs almost perfect water to survive. Other than feeders, they are one of the most neglected n abused fish out there.

I used to work at an lfs and i visit others frequently to maintain my wholesale connections. Lol in regards to commons, 99.9% of the time they come in malnourished. Sunken in belly, face, eyes, etc. u name it and its skinny. We used to pump them up on vegetables and algae wafers. In 2 weeks they look perfectly fine. So again pick one thats not skinny or slow moving. Pick the aggressive healthy fat looking one. And also check ur water parameters


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