Hi, I'm "fishsitting" for a friend and I think her pleco may have a swimbladder problem.
Tank size: 5 (U.S.) gallons
pH: 8.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
Tank temp: Room temp (no heater)
Fish Symptoms: Instead of hiding out under the filter like he normally does, he's been alternately hanging on to the sides of the tank, hanging onto a rock with his tail floating skyward, or floating completely upside-down at the surface.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: No idea how often she does water changes... Knowing her, not very often!!
Filtration: Whisper Bio Bag cartridge filter
Tank inhabitants: Just the pleco and another little dude - a tetra of some sort, perhaps? He's transparent and you can see his skeleton.
Nothing new (fish or decor) has been added to the tank recently. The tank has been going 2-3 years now.
I dropped in a cooked, shelled pea last night... it was gone this morning, but whether the plec ate it or the filter sucked it up is hard to say.
I've also included a photo:
Sometimes he goes almost vertical, with his tail upward, seemingly hanging on by his mouth for dear life! Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
Tank size: 5 (U.S.) gallons
pH: 8.0
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
Tank temp: Room temp (no heater)
Fish Symptoms: Instead of hiding out under the filter like he normally does, he's been alternately hanging on to the sides of the tank, hanging onto a rock with his tail floating skyward, or floating completely upside-down at the surface.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: No idea how often she does water changes... Knowing her, not very often!!
Filtration: Whisper Bio Bag cartridge filter
Tank inhabitants: Just the pleco and another little dude - a tetra of some sort, perhaps? He's transparent and you can see his skeleton.
Nothing new (fish or decor) has been added to the tank recently. The tank has been going 2-3 years now.
I dropped in a cooked, shelled pea last night... it was gone this morning, but whether the plec ate it or the filter sucked it up is hard to say.
I've also included a photo:
Sometimes he goes almost vertical, with his tail upward, seemingly hanging on by his mouth for dear life! Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
