Bristlenose Pleco Dying

[Cichlidkeeper]

I bought my first Bristtlenose Pleco (BNP) about a week ago he was full grown and appeared healthy in the dealers tank. I bought him and took him home. I would say I floated him for about 30 min and then double his bag water. I only waited about 5 min after that and then I added him to the tank. I came back about 2 hours later to check on him and he was dead. I assume I acclimated him to quickly as that seemed to only logical explnation.

Yesterday I figured I would look for one to replace him at another dealer. The had small ones about 2 inch so I decieded to get one. This time I acclimated him over a 2 hour period slowly mixing tank water. Everything looked fine untill an hour ago. He is now lying on his back fins spreed out. Still breathing but obviosly not doing well.

I check my parameters and all seems fine.

PH: 7.6-7.8
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Alkalinity: 5dkh

I'm not sure what else it could be I havn't heard any special requirements.

All my other livestock is doing well which include

10 neon tetras
10 glowlight tetras
6 black neon tetras
6 Syno. Petricola
4 kulie loaches
2 black kulie loaches

 

[tttnjfttt]

Do you have a planted tank? Also, what is your tank maintence routine?

 

[WILDER]

Could be bacterial or parasite, is the fish thin with a sunken in belly, or is the belly bloated like he has swallowed a peice of gravel, what does i look like when the fish goes to the toilet, also check the anus to see if it's enlarged or red and inflamed.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I'm leaning towards something in the water, like excessive nutrients, that is causing the trouble. Here is why. Two new fish seem to be having trouble aclimating to the new environemnt. They seemed healhy at the store, but within in a few hours of being released into their new environment, trouble begins. Also you have said all your older fish seem fine, so they have adapted to the problem as it slowly began to develop.

 

[mandy82]

Do you have any aquarium salt in your tank water?

 

[Cichlidkeeper]

Thank you all for your quick responses. I'll try to answer your questions

First, no this isn't a planted tank. The only thing I add to my water is stress coat.

Altough it could be a parasite of some sort I doubt this one. I puchased both fish from different dealers. The fish looked healthy when purchased. The one that is still alive now appeared fine a few hours ago.

NJF, You seem to be describing Old Tank Syndrom. This is a newer tank so there shouldn't be excessive nutrient buldup. My nitrates are only a 5 ppm so that should also dismiss this I imagine.

I've never added any salt to this tank. Although I had this set up as a marine tank at one time but it was thoughly rinsed out before use as a freshwater tank.

Well just went to check one the Pleco and It has died. I'm not sure what to do now. I surely don't want to kill another one. I'm wondering if I should try a common pleco. I don't think that would matter much though.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry R.I.P. I would check the ph in the bag of the water when you buy them and check yours as if there is a really big gap, as it can take for ever to climatise them.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I was thinking of something along the lines of old tank syndrome. If the tank was planted, that could explain why the nitrates were low but you still have trouble adding new fish. Without your water stats, old tank syndrome fits perfictally.


I still think it is something within your water, rather than a disease.

 

[Animation]

Often bacterial infections can be undetected and not nececerilly(Can't spell that!) change your water stats noticably.
Like ttfftt Said as this may of happened the 'older' fish will have got used to it, Like a kids goldifh in a goldfish bowl that hasn't been cleaned for 6months. The fish will become 'immune' to this however your new fish won't.
Are they're any illness signs that have developed in thew short time he has been in there.
And a suggestion don't buy another one untill it's sorted .
Try doing a 25-50% water change tommorow and see how it goes.
Add anti-bacterial meds to it

 

[Cichlidkeeper]

I'm sorry I did add the water parameters. The tank is a 50 us gal breeder. Non-Planted community tank. It is filtered with a lifeguard modular filtration system and a filstar xp3 canister filter. Decorations include plastic and silk plants, a couple rocks, and 2 pieces of driftwood. Lighting is provided by a 130w compact flor. fixture. I'm currently only using one 65w bulb though.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I would call the LPS and ask them what their pH is as wilder suggested. The only thing I can suggest is to do several water changes before adding more fish. I did see your stats when you posted (which is why i asked about plants). Other than that, aclimate slowly. I have heard some people promote drip aclimation, which is slower, but supposedly alot more successful.

 

[WILDER]

Do you run an airstone.

 

[tttnjfttt]

What is your tank maintence routine?

 

[Cichlidkeeper]

On this tank I perform weekly water changes about 25%. I don't have any air stone but I do have 600+ gph with surface agitation.

I'm still leaning toward improper acclimation. I may try drip acclimation on the next one. I'm going to wait a few weeks though to see if any other problems arise.

 

[tttnjfttt]

I think you are right with the improper acclimation. I can't see any reason to have anything built up in your tank that shouldn't be with your water change routine. Good luck!