Aggressive Pleco

[Branch1]

My plecostomonstrous keeps trying to eat the other fish in the tank.

Advice from a friend is that blood worm will sort out his cravin does this sound right?

Is he not maybe crowded? He is about 12cm in 65l tank - 3 staones 1 rock 1 planter box and 4 plants

Cos he is blind he mostly goes for the swordtails.

I have lost 2 sick neons to him already- they just disappeared.

other fish in the tank are 4 sepaes, 3 neons, 4 poor mans tetras, 1 platy, 2 sword tails and 2 silvertips.

He shouldn't be hungry he does get plenty food and also cucumber.

What to do?

 

[smithrc]

Sorry to say it so bluntly...

But no he's not.

what other fish do you have in the tank as my money is on something else.

The plec will only eat dead fish off the bottom... if they are already sick its likely they died and he cleaned up for you

 

[black angel]

your tank is only 14 gallons (uk). it is very overstocked. if your plec is a common it will grow to over 12 inches. how long have you had your tank running and how soon after did you add the fish? i dont think the plec is killing your fish either, but maybe after the slime coat. the other fish may be dying because of the newness of the tank.
do you have any test kits? good ones to have are ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph.

 

[skimpy]

Hi Branch1

Look Here this is the type of information we need to be able to help more accurately.

I agree with black angel and smithrc he may clean up but I don't think he is killing your fish. It does sound as if you may be cycling and we definately need more details to help you if that is the case.

Please send some detail and water test results.

 

[jrd77]

It's not just you at all and although he's not killing the fish intentionally, he is sucking that slime coat right off. My pleco just recently almost killed 3 fish by sucking on them (although I saved them in time). I'm trying to solve this problem but am not sure how yet...the only thing I can think of is to make sure he has enough algae and stuff to suck on. This did not start as a problem for me until he had sucked the entire tank clean...I'm going to start dropping those algae wafers down in there to see if that helps....

Good luck!

 

[a1wonder]

Let me get this straight you have a common pleco sucking the slime coat off of pretty fast moving fish??? It might not even be a pleco at all but perhaps a really dumb person at the LFS + wrong identification of a Chinese algae eater = one bad situation.

I agree with the earlier comment that your tank is over crowded pleco or algae eater they both will grow way to large for that tank unfortunately and with his or her behavior my best advice would be to return the fish to the pet store.

Also an algae eater or pleco is never meant to have algae as their only sour of food in their diet. It is actually a misconception that these fish will survive on only the waste products of other tank mates and algae they need to be feed suitable food just like your other wet friends. Plecos usually mainly eat algae wafers and I have never seen one go for blood worms as they are a vegetarian – ish fish

 

[Branch1]

My tank is now about 6 months old so no new cycling goping on. I waterchange once a week +/- 2/3 and add cycling agents then. My nitrates area little high but I am working on that with additional plants.
I am aware that my tank is a little overstocked. This seems to be taking care of itself naturally. I test the water weekly and when at the local LFS to confirm my readings. Ammonia and Nitrite are fine they do have a go at me about ph high usually I treat this with water changes and monitor it .

I have SEEN the Plec go for other fish. His intention is clear. He is too slow though for healthy fish but will grab a straggler or sick fish Sorry SmithRC but he is acting very aggresively.

Yes he also defintitely picks up dead fish too.

I have seen my mates plec wolf down bloodworm. Will try it and let you know

jrd77 - I have given mine loads of cucumber recently but his behaviour hasn't changed I don't think its cos he is hungry just grouchy

 

[enchanted]

There is a possibility it is the tank size that is the problem. He may not be getting any peace and quiet.

That always makes everyone grouchy...

 

[black angel]

when a plec gets the taste for slime coat its very hard to get him to stop. another thing that plecs need to help with the diet is bogwood.

 

[smithrc]

he'll have a VERY hard time eating fish... his mouth is under his body...

He is probably just defending his hiding place.