HELP !!!

JIN · Jun 15, 2021

Hello everyone. I recently got my zebra pleco for almost 1 month plus now and it was doing alright in the tank but suddenly today it is acting strange

I tried to gently poke it but it's body is stiff. It's still breathing but rapidly. What is happening to my zebra pleco ? I'm so scared

Uberhoust · Jun 15, 2021

Hi: I am not a disease expert but it looks like a lot of organic waste on the substrate. If it is old food or fecal material you might be getting an Ammonia spike as it decomposes. I would suggest that you:
1. Test your water for ammonia and nitrite if you can, for conformational purposes
2. Remove the waste while doing a least a 75% water change at the same time
3. Monitor and daily water changes until the ammonia drops to zero if that is the problem

Good luck and hopefully someone else checks in.

itiwhetu · Jun 15, 2021

These guys are rather delicate. They need clean water and a well established tank where the parameters are stable. Can you please post the parameters of your tank to see if they are suitable for this guy.