Urgent Help Please Plecos Keep Dieing

[xt3r3s4x]

Hi, could anyone please help me identify whats wrong? Over the last two weeks i've purchased 3 commom plecs, (seperately, as 1 as died i have replaced it) all have only lasted a day? They have appeared to be fine & ok in the tank. I purchased another 1 yesterday seemed fine in the tank got up this morning & again the plec is dead, all three that i have purchased have all been dead the following morning? Any help please? Checked water stats all is fine, plenty hiding places, tank been established roughly 6 months, the tank mates are: 2 female 1 male black mollies, 2 female 1 male white mollies, 2 female 1 male swordtail, 1 female 1 male platy & dozen neons. I really cannot find anything that is or what im doing wrong, any help or suggestons would be very much appreciated. The aquatic place where i have purchased the plecs have replaced each 1 yet that has died (havn't yet returned yesterdays plec that i purchsed) Don't really want to purchase another till i can try & solve the situation?

 

[Amerce]

Hi sorry to hear about your deaths, but before anyone can advise you on the problem we need the following info -

1. size of yourtank
2. what are the water parameters (you say water stats are OK but please can you give us the ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia etc readings).
3. what filter are you using on the tank

Whilst I've never had problems with plecs they are create for making waste matter and your pollution level rises very quickly, and unless you have a really good filter and water regime introducing 2 plecs to a tank is pushing the filter too quickly.

If you can give us the info on the 3 questions asked then we will try to help, in the interim please do not buy any more plecs otherwise they will probably not survive (also have you thought that the shop you are buying them from could have plecs with intestinal problems... hence the deaths?).

 

[cosworthlady]

although this might sound odd but what sort of gravel/sand are you using? Have you cleaned that with an aquarium vacuum? Very suspicious that you have lost 3 plecos. Have they all came from the same shop?

 

[xt3r3s4x]

Hi sorry to hear about your deaths, but before anyone can advise you on the problem we need the following info -

1. size of yourtank
2. what are the water parameters (you say water stats are OK but please can you give us the ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia etc readings).
3. what filter are you using on the tank

Whilst I've never had problems with plecs they are create for making waste matter and your pollution level rises very quickly, and unless you have a really good filter and water regime introducing 2 plecs to a tank is pushing the filter too quickly.

If you can give us the info on the 3 questions asked then we will try to help, in the interim please do not buy any more plecs otherwise they will probably not survive (also have you thought that the shop you are buying them from could have plecs with intestinal problems... hence the deaths?).

Hi, thanks for the reply, i only added 1 plec at a time, 1 was purchased when the other died & so on. This tank been established apprx 6 months & holds apprx 110 litres using under gravel filter. The ph:7.5, nitrite 0.3, thats all i can test with the test kit i have, i have taken some water to the aquatic shop & they say water is absolutly fine, temp is 25. All my other fish are fine & healthy with no signs of stress or any diseases?

 

[xt3r3s4x]

although this might sound odd but what sort of gravel/sand are you using? Have you cleaned that with an aquarium vacuum? Very suspicious that you have lost 3 plecos. Have they all came from the same shop?

Hi, thanks for the reply. Using ordinary/normal small gravel? Havn't cleaned with a aquarium vacuum. I did purchase the plecs from the same aquatic shop. Its really confusing me to what could be wrong?

 

[Ben M]

i think i'm right in saying that you shouldn't have any nitrite in your tank. and you should have a test kit that also does nitrate and ammonia