Sudden Pleco Death

[San O Fisher]

So i came home last night and my golden nugget was dead. I noticed he didnt eat his zuchinni for the last two days, but he had been cleaning more algae than normal off the side of the tank so i figured he just was not hungry. water levels were okay as of mid last week when i did my water change, his stomach was not sunken in or bloated either.
I went to my LFS to order my green phantom L200 and Blue Phantom L128 for my new tank which will be ready this weekend and they adv me it was probably nothing. any one have any ideas? all of my other fish are fine, i did a 50% water change since, but i am hesitant to add my new plecs until i get to the bottom of this.

 

[Colin_T]

If it went off its food for a couple of days it probably had an internal problem. I would cancel the order of new fish for a month or so until you work out exactly what happened. Alternatively put the new fish into another tank.
The only real way to know what killed the fish would be to have it autopsied by a fish vet.

 

[San O Fisher]

after reading about swim bladder, and looking back at my guy, he spent some time on his back under his rock when he was not sucking to it, any one know if it is possible for a plec to get swim bladder? i found him near the top of the tank a lot too in the last couple of days.

 

[Colin_T]

Swim bladder problems are rare in wild caught fish and rare in catfish. It can happen but is unlikely due to their body design. Most bottom dwellers have a much smaller swim bladder than mid or surface dwelling fishes. The smaller organ reduces the chance of anything going wrong with it. And when swim bladders do go, the fish quite often sink to the bottom of the tank. Since the catfish is already on the bottom, it doesn't make much difference to them.

Suckermouth Catfish will regularly sit upsidedown under rocks and wood. It's quite common to see them just sitting there doing nothing, hiding in their little crevice.

 

[San O Fisher]

he was breathing heavy, on his back, not sucking to anything, and then he died the next day. I found him at the top of the tank one time, and he never sits at the top of the tank, he traveled between the rock and log. Every time he was upside down he was sucking to something, he looked like a posum playing dead. any ideas?

 

[stang1]

How long has your tank been set up?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH?

 

[San O Fisher]

How long has your tank been set up?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH?

last i checked ammonia was probably .1 - always very minimal b/c there is a small amount of ammonia in my tap water.
my nitrate was 6
Nitrate 0
PH around 7.8-8

i may have nitrate and nitrite confused - it is considered healthy per my test kit - yes it is liquid. this is why i was so wierded out. i changed my water mid week b/c the fish were accidently over fed and the water was cloudy, which is why i figured he just wasnt hungry. I am going to use the media from my tank right now to start my large one tomorrow, i dont know if should do this if there is a disease in my tank, any ideas? the tank has been set up for 3 months, but i used media from another tank to start the tank. my lfs is confused too, as i just called to add a gold nugget pleco to my order, at least he is selling everything to me for a good price.

 

[stang1]

Unfortunately, Gold Nuggets are very sensitive and many people lose them with no explanation as to why. It can be something as simple as a slight nitrite/ammonia reading or not enough oxygen in the tank. Sadly, you may never find out the reason.
How big is your tank?

 

[San O Fisher]

Unfortunately, Gold Nuggets are very sensitive and many people lose them with no explanation as to why. It can be something as simple as a slight nitrite/ammonia reading or not enough oxygen in the tank. Sadly, you may never find out the reason.
How big is your tank?

This tank was 15 Gallons, he was due to go into his 55 gallon home this weekend. I bought him as an L177, so he was the smaller of the three & was about 2.5 inches. as he grew i knew he would need a new home which was coming this weekend, unforutunately he didnt make it.

 

[stang1]

Make sure your tank has had plenty of time before adding any Plecos. They can be really sensitive and don't do very well in newly set up tanks. I always let my tanks mature for at least 3-4 months before adding Plecos.

 

[San O Fisher]

Make sure your tank has had plenty of time before adding any Plecos. They can be really sensitive and don't do very well in newly set up tanks. I always let my tanks mature for at least 3-4 months before adding Plecos.

hmmm, do you really think there would be an issue, i am breaking down my old tank and everything is going into the new one. I wouldnt think there would be a large issue, especially since i am supplementing their diet, but i dont feel like losing expensive fish, or any for that matter.

 

[stang1]

If you have a mature filter, then it should be fine. The ammonia and nitrite levels fluctuate too much in newly set up tanks and Plecos can be very sensitive to this.

 

[San O Fisher]

If you have a mature filter, then it should be fine. The ammonia and nitrite levels fluctuate too much in newly set up tanks and Plecos can be very sensitive to this.

sounds like i will be fine then.

 

[stang1]

Good luck and remember to post pics of your new Plecos!