Just Got The Freaking Scare Of My Life!

[Durbkat]

In my sig you will see what fish I have in my long 20g tank, well my common pleco started climbing the back tank wall (as he always does) but this time after he climbed to the top of the tank he somehow got onto the output of my whisper power filter 40 and literally started climbing the output part of the filter even with the powerful water flowing down him. So I lifted the lid to the filter he fell back down into the tank. Why in the world would he do such a stupid and dangerous thing? He has never done this before and has never been known to be a dardevil (except the time he jumped out of the tank). So is their a way to prevent this from happening again? And is their something I should treat him with even though I can't see any damage but can't see him real good because the light is off because I just added some more fish today and don't want to stress and scare the new fish? Any help would be appriecatied.

 

[fishdudein]

Usually the outflow of a power filter is a wonderful place for algae to grow. Constant water flow and good lighting up near the surface are ideal (and the algae can actually be a beneficial part of the filtration process, too). Chances are that your pleco wasn't trying to escape, he just wanted to get at a wonderful meal. It probably will happen again, nothing to worry about....

 

[jollysue]

He was looking for milk and cookies

 

[CFC]

Please don't start topics of the same content in multiple forums.

 

[nitro]

It is nothing to worry about really. My bristlenose used to do the same thing when she was smaller.

 

[SirMinion]

Plecs are specifically adapted to feed in fast flowing water, so he was just doing what comes naturaly.

 

[Durbkat]

Sorry CFC I accidently posted in tropical chit chat but meant to put it in the catfish forum. Whew I thought he was trying to escape. Maybe he did it because he hadn't got fed yet and thier is no green algae in the tank. Well he had never done it before and it seemed like he was stuck because by the time I heard the splashing noise and the time I got their he wasn't moving so once I lifted the lid of the filter he fell back into the tank. Well my second question is yesterday I added two more long finned black tetras and one more regular black tetra and ever since I added those new fish that made four for each fin type of black tetra he has become extremly active and is moving all over the tank it seems like the new fish have taken over his territory and when he tries to go back to his usual spot the new tetras chase him away and all the tetras are following him and he doesn't seem to like it at all because he is trying to get away but they keep following him while he tries to find a spot to claim his own. Will this problem sort it self out when the new territory is established or will this continue and result in me having to return the new fish from the 20g?

 

[Durbkat]

This d@** fish did it again! This is so stupid I hope he stops doing this once I feed him.
Fishdudin- you were right he did it again so now I have taken the lid off the filter because it seemed like the lid was what was holding him up thier and when I removed the lid he slid back down so my thinking is if he does it again that he will slide bac down and eventually he hopfully will get tired of jumping up onto the output just to fall back down.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You shouldn't have the plec in a 20gal tank(he's 6inchs long isn't he?), i know you know this but you should be making an effort to rehome him ASAP right now, it is not fair keeping him in that tank as he'll get stunted growth and die at a young age. When you keep any fish in a tank too small for them, even if its supposed to be peaceful by nature, any peaceful fish's nature can change when they are under stressful conditions like lack of space.
Your fish is not stupid, its hungry, you should not be getting angry at it considering you are not keeping it in the required conditions for keeping a growing common plec, this is when they grow their most and fastest and he's gonna get stunted growth in that tank which is not good. What and how much do you feed the plec on a general basis?

 

[Durbkat]

Sorry I clicked on the wrong simley. I feed him sinking algae wafers once every other day. But he missed his feeding yesterday because I got some new fish. But he will be fed today in a few hours. And he is only 4 1/2" long and he will be rehomed once I get some more money and space.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Once you get some money and space could be tommorrow or in a couple of months time, either rehome him to a lfs or see if you can pick up a cheap second hand 50gal either on the buy/sell section here or in your local newspaper adds etc, either that or borrow some money off your parents or friends for a new tank and start paying them off ASAP .

 

[Durbkat]

You mean give him away to a lps, no way! I don't have room for a 50g and my family isn't rich and I'm the only one who can afford my tank supplys and my friends aren't loaded with money and I couldn't afford to get a huge tank shipped through the mail and couldn't afford to get a stand,fliter,heater,gravel, and plants.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You mean give him away to a lps, no way! I don't have room for a 50g and my family isn't rich and I'm the only one who can afford my tank supplys and my friends aren't loaded with money and I couldn't afford to get a huge tank shipped through the mail and couldn't afford to get a stand,fliter,heater,gravel, and plants.

Well then what are you gonna do with him? Because he's gonna need that 50gal, why don't you see if somone can adopt him here on the buy/sell section?

 

[Durbkat]

Well sorry to say I'm not getting rid of him because I've had him for over a year and he has always been fine. I think the only thing I did wrong was get 3 more fish. So he will be ok until I can get a bigger tank as long as I keep up on vacum cleanings and give him the most space I can and the only friend I have that has a bigger tank than me has a 29g tank but he alreadys has a common pleco in the tank with two long finned black tetras.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

He's only 6inchs long and he's a year old ?
His growth has already been severely stunted, he should be at least 10inchs long by now, you may believe you have kept well and fed him and all that but it is not good keeping in such a small tank for so long, the damage has already been done and will continue to do so for as long as you keep him in these conditions. If you want to do whats best for him, get him a bigger tank right now, 29gal just ain't gonna cut it for a common plec. Most people keep commn plecs in at least 60-80gal tanks. If you can't look after him properly give him to somone on here you can. Your friend may be keeping a common plec in a 29gal but that is little better than what you are doing.
Do what is best for your plec, not nesarsarily what is best for you.