Pleco problem or behavior?

[gaya]

Hello all

I have been watching my two plecos at night when the lights are off (that's the only time they really come out) and I have noticed an odd behavior. One or both (really don't know) will swim very, very fast to the top of the tank and almost, what it seems, to ram at the water surface making a splash and then swim just as fast back to the bottom. Then they proceed sucking along the tank walls and scavenging through the gravel. Is this normal or do they have something? I am a bit worried that my tank may be coming down with ick as I noticed a gourami flicking against a plant today.

any ideas? I would really appreciate it.

thanks
gina

 

[samthefishman]

hmmm sounds like lack of oxygen

 

[jams.alaskan]

Perhaps the pleco is a little like the cory cat in that they swallow a little air to add to their digestive tracts for aid in digestion. Just a thought...

ALASKA

My pleco also comes to the surface at times and dives back down

 

[samthefishman]

reason why i said lack of oxygen, Is because my pleco did the same thing untill i put my oxygen in there.

 

[gaya]

maybe it is a lack of O2. I stopped using an air stone because I have a planted aquarium and didn't realize that I should turn it on at night because the plants use up O2 at night. Last night I had it on though. Also the other fish in the tank are not hangin at the surface.

ALaska- so your pleco has done it too and he/she's healthy right?
gi

 

[jams.alaskan]

Had the stinker for 4 years in several dif tanks and locations - never thought that his dive for the surface and back was anything less then normal...

ALASKA

 

[smithrc]

Perhaps the pleco is a little like the cory cat in that they swallow a little air to add to their digestive tracts for aid in digestion. Just a thought...

ALASKA

My pleco also comes to the surface at times and dives back down

pretty sure your right with the digestion idea.

 

[Earthgirl]

Hi there,
I read somewhere that plecs do that in aiding in digestion and also when nitrites are too high.
Just a thought.
Personally never seen or heard my plecs doing that. Sure would like to see some of them once in a while!

 

[fraservet]

perfectly normal behaviour

 

[gaya]

you guys have made me feel much better. I wish I got to see my little guys more often too!

I worry that since I don't really get to see them that I wouldn't know if they came down with something.

 

[fourplayfishy]

yea mine used to do that to and i had an air stone then again i had like 40 guppies in a 10 gal i know im bad neways just becareful he dont try and clean the OUTSIDEof the tank... that was mines fav past time... when he went for his jump to the surface he would jump over the edge

 

[breezer40]

Mine has been doing it since I can remember and he is getting on a bit now so its perfectly normal behaviour