Overwieght Pleco!

[star4]

Not sure what to do really? I recently picked up a lovely sailfin, he is about 8" long and nearly 3" across (measuring his belly between his pectoral fins. His belly is not swollen he is just very wide and his body does hang over his pectoral fins a little). He was in a small tank (70l). He is now in my 4ft tank with my mississipi map turtle and kissing gourami, I chose to put him in there rather than the 400l tank as I was worried about him comming up for air (height of the tank almost 3 times what he was use to). I am a little worried as he didnt swim about much to start with, but now when he goes from one end of the tank to the other, he seems to pant? he is getting more active day by day. Could the panting just be he is so not use to swimming?

I am only giving him a small amount of food, although he has stripped all the algae from the tank and also given the turtles shell a good going over. Any advice would be welcome, I know being this fat cannot be good for him.

Thanks

 

[Haych]

Not sure what to do really? I recently picked up a lovely sailfin, he is about 8" long and nearly 3" across (measuring his belly between his pectoral fins. His belly is not swollen he is just very wide and his body does hang over his pectoral fins a little). He was in a small tank (70l). He is now in my 4ft tank with my mississipi map turtle and kissing gourami, I chose to put him in there rather than the 400l tank as I was worried about him comming up for air (height of the tank almost 3 times what he was use to). I am a little worried as he didnt swim about much to start with, but now when he goes from one end of the tank to the other, he seems to pant? he is getting more active day by day. Could the panting just be he is so not use to swimming?

I am only giving him a small amount of food, although he has stripped all the algae from the tank and also given the turtles shell a good going over. Any advice would be welcome, I know being this fat cannot be good for him.

Thanks

i'm sorry but i actually laughed out loud at that!

i suppose its possible, he could be obese as he isnt used to having so much room, he is now working for what he eats, rather than it being put in front of his nose due to lack of space.

 

[star4]

Hiya Haych, thats what I am hoping he is just fat because of the lack of space and he will slim down a bit in this tank. The turtle and he have become really close! the turtle does scare him sometimes even though he is bigger than the turtle, his fins shoot up and the poor turtle gets a fright back lol

 

[Haych]

brilliant! thats why i love sailfins! they have such character

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i would love to see a pic of your sailfin any chance you could post one up?

 

[snowflake311]

I would say it is a female. The female plecos tend to get plump. My clow pleco is a fatty.I have had her for 2 years. When I first got her she looked average and small. after a Few months she got fat. I was concerned too. But she has been like this for almost 2 years now. I figured she is just a mature female. I cut back on the algea wafers and she is plump.

I would like to see some photos too.