Sucker Fish

[fishyaddiction]

I actually tried posting this in the Catfish forum but for some reason I don't have authorization to post there - I think maybe because I'm new.

I purchased a sucker fish about a week ago and he's been eating regularly [I feed him sinking algae wafers] and he does what it seems he's suposed to [suction to the wall, filter, rocks, plants, etc].

I have noticed however that when I come close to the tank he'll clamp his dorsal fin to his body, not the other fins only the dorsal fin.

I also did a water change today and I usually keep my filter on while doing this but I read somewhere that it might be bad for the pump so I turned it off for the first time during a water change. When I finished I didn't notice the sucker was suctioned to the portion of the filter that takes the water in so I turned it on. Once I noticed him there I thought maybe I had done him damage by turning on the filter unexpectedly so I turned it off again and used my fish net to get him away from it. I may have actually hit him with the wire portion of the net - I'm not even sure if I did and if so, how hard - the point [I promise it's coming] is that he's seemd to be a little slower after the "potential strike" though I may be overreacting and creating this on my own.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Mo_loves_fish]

well u cant post mabey b/c u dident authorize your acc b/c if you have yahoo they put it in bulk mail

and about the pleco theey are naturaly shy i wouldnt worrie about him and they r 2 strond to get sucked to the filter also dont net your fish fo every little thing it causes stress on the fish and mabey thats why he isnt acting normal he could be stressed

 

[morgan]

Mine acts a bit odd sometimes too. Usually it is out and about in the tank but today and yesterday it is hiding behind a piece of wood. He is not scared, he is the biggest fish in the tank! I hope that your fish is ok too.

 

[ncjharris]

Are we sure we are talking about a pleco here as a sucker and not a sae/cae etc.??

 

[GirlinWayside]

he is probably okay. Like Mo said, he's probably just a little stressed.

 

[fishyaddiction]

I'm definitely NOT not talking about a CAE or SAE. I had a CAE and brought it back to the store because I was advised that he would get too aggressive as an adult and possibly murder my other fish so I bought this guy.

I have a picture of him but don't want to go throught the trouble of getting the stuff I need to post pics - too much f a hassle for me.

Thanks for thr thoughts.

 

[jimbooo]

i wouldn't worry about it. out of interest which of these have you got.

bristlenose (has tiny bristles on it's nose)

not the best pic buy you can just see the bristles on the tip of his nose. just above the gravel

Sailfin (very simmilar to a common plec)

if yours looks like the second pic, you have nothing to worry about at all. sailfin and common plecs have a kind of external plated body armour, you'd find it hard to hurt him with any amount of bashing with nets etc...

the first one is not armoured and are as delicate as any other fish. while were on the subject your not supposed to mix the 2 in the same tank unless you have a rather big tank with lots of hiding places/caves etc. if they fight the armoured one will win hands down every time.

hope that helps (any excuse to post some pics, sorry)

 

[Bloo]

You still need to validate your membership. So check your email and click on the link that would have been sent to you. Without that, you will always be restricted to posting in most sections.

 

[jkrekord]

you cant get on the catfish cos your not a member i had the same problem wen i first started on this forum

 

[morgan]

Very nice to see the pics Jimbooo. I think now that my Common is actually a Sailfin. It looks just like your second photo. I am off to planet catfish to read all about it now.