Fighting Plecs

[Lin]

I got involved in my friends emergency tonight... he has a tank with two plecs ... one he has had for 3 years and is about 10inch and the other he bought this summer and it has grown. Initially the bigger plec sort of pushed the little one out of the way, but not aggressively. But in the last two days, the little one has gone psychotic (or whatever the plec equivalent is) and has constantly attacked the big one.

I got a call tonight to empty my small tank and put some medication in and he rushed the plec round and put it in my now empty tank. It was battered, fins torn and was lethargic and kept floating on his back... which I assume was shock. I have watched him all night and gently turned him right side up ... its been five hours now and he is maintaining right side up now.

Has anybody had experience of plecs suddenly attacking each other like this.. they are slightly different marked plecs so not the same type exactly. They were in a 60 lt tank so I think that was okay sizewise for two plecs... one 10in and the other little devil around 7 in. Or should they have been in a bigger one?

Also what is the average lifespan of this size of plec please... they are both adult size now. I have a small albino plec which hasn't gone above 5ins, and he is a bit of a bully but is alone in a tank of livebearers, so keeps to his little rock and protects his tiny territory in the corner... I was thinking perhaps that's what caused the dispute in Mike's tank... territory!

And I am going to bed... knackered from nursing. Look forward to some replies tomorrow, LInda

 

[WILDER]

10gal is not a big tank for a plec, depends on which type they are, sounds like the little plec is fighting for space in the tank.
Need to know the fulls stock of the tank which he was in, how many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Is he still turning upside down as he might have a damaged swim bladder due to the scabbling.

 

[smithrc]

sorry??
a 10" and a 7" plec in a 60L tank?
Please say its a typo.

As for the hurt one. plecs can and do fight to the death if they cant solve their differenced. This fighting will have been dure to terrotry issues. Issues that they wont have been able to solve due to the fact that the tank is not big enough for either of them to have a terrotory!

To be honest if the plec is as badly beaten up as you discribe, it may not make it throught the night. If it does, find someone with a big tank (and no plecs) that they can house it in for it to recouperate. external damage should heal with some off the shel medication and good water quality. The other injuries only time will tell.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Yeah, your going to need a way bigger tank. After your plec is healthy there both going ot need atleast a 35 US gallon long...

 

[Lin]

Thanks for your replies, that was my opinion on his tank... he has them in that tank because he is in the middle of house building work and is going to get a bigger one when finished. Will have a word with him later and see what he is going to do. But there were no other fish in the tank just these two.

And now I have a problem because he is in my hospital tank which is only 28l, my main tank is 180lt but it is full stocked. He has survived the night and is right way up. I have put Melafix in the tank which repairs fish, but I have no alternative but to leave him in this size tank for the time being. All I can think of doing is just making sure I change 10% water once a week while he is my guest.

Noone is going to take a wounded fish so he has to survive in this tank till Mike sorts himself out. Meanwhile I will ask around and see if anyone else can take him. Linda

 

[14gtr14]

Do you mean 60 gallons?? If you do actually mean 60 litres then that is the reason they aren't getting on! Do they even have enough room to turn??

 

[Lin]

I have a spare 60lt tank in the garage... if I gave that to Mike as a temp measure ... do you think that would be enough for this 10" plec on his own for a while?

 

[kev350d]

Work it out he has 17" of plec between them both and take a juwel rekord 60 for instance that measures approx: 24" long, 11" deep and 15" high (guestimates). the 10" plec couldnt even turn on itself properly. You would be far better off re-housing it at a lfs or simply giving it to anyone with the means of keeping it.

I'd say if that is all you have then place him in for tonight and get it straight to a lfs or someone with a larger tank asap tomorrow when everywhere is open, dont tryand get cash for it as no one would buy a large common plec as most see it as them doing the owner a favour.

 

[smithrc]

bung the poor thing in your 180 for the time being...

keep an eye on the levels but I'm will to say it'll be fine as a temporary measure.

 

[Lin]

You've all been very helpful... thanks but the plec has now died, must have been too badly damaged. Have ticked Mike off and he is going to get the remaining smaller plec a bigger tank. Trouble is, I am softer than him and it has died in my house while I was watching so I am really sad... glad my fish are all healthy and happy (touch wood). Linda

 

[WILDER]

Sorry bless him R.I.P.