Pleco Laying On Its Side

[mashby]

Tank size: 130 ltr
pH: 7.0
ammonia:
nitrite0.3 mg/l
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 28 deg C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):I have a common pleco which has started to lie on its back and side. Can anyone shed any light on this.
I personally think it is dying, but i'm no expert as i've only had the tank for a month.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: twice weekly 25%


Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Nutrafin cycle , Nutrafin Aqua plus


Tank inhabitants:
Tetras: Congo, neon, glowlight, harlequin, serpia
German blue rams
Angel fish
guppies
platties
Black phantoms
tiger barbs
panda cory
clown loach
pleco: 1x common, 1 other type
spiney eel
dragon gory

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): spiney eel, dragon gory, & air stone


Exposure to chemicals: no

 

[Chantal94]

I wouldnt change the water 2 times a week only the one. the other fish within the tank shouldnt cause a problem to the pleco as they are a good comminty fish. Also taking that the pleco is still small it has a big enough tank (for the mean time) maybe its just ill when you brought it? How long have you had the pleco ? if it dies take it back to shop and get money back on it. i really dont know what could be wrong. will have to ask someone else that one

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks severely overstocked.
Water changes and increase aeration.

I would think about rehoming some fish like.
Clown loaches the tanks to small, plus they shouldn't be kept in less than a group of 3.
How many fish do you have of each type.

Does the plec look bloated.
Is he acting listless and lethagic.
Does he look pale or darker in colour.

 

[ILuvTropicalFish]

That was my thought too. Your tank is overstocked. How long has the tank been set up? Did the tank go through a cycle? What did you use to test the nitrites? You may want to think about which fish you really want to keep and consider rehoming Wilder said.

 

[indigoj]

I wouldnt change the water 2 times a week only the one. the other fish within the tank shouldnt cause a problem to the pleco as they are a good comminty fish. Also taking that the pleco is still small it has a big enough tank (for the mean time) maybe its just ill when you brought it? How long have you had the pleco ? if it dies take it back to shop and get money back on it. i really dont know what could be wrong. will have to ask someone else that one

Utter rubbish - even daily water changes will do no harm and twice weekly is good practice for a fairly new tank.

The fish listed are not all 'good community fish' especially not in a 130l

After a month NO lfs on the plant would do a refund.

To the Original Poster:

Once plecs are on their back/side it is generally not good, water changes and increase aeriation.

I agree with the others - definitely overstocked.

 

[bealsey41]

And just a side note - The dragon Goby is a Brackish water only fish and the common plecs grow way too large for that size tank anyway!! Your angel fish might also have a go at eating the neons too!!

 

[Spishkey]

im guessing in a tank so overstocked you've got a lot of ammonia in there (i see you have a nitrite reading to?) invest in a good water test kit (about £15 for an api liquid test kit) then you can test for ammonia and nitrate too.

immediate water change.......right now...do about a 50% change, test again. if nitrite (as this is the only test you have right now) is not at 0 do another water change.

ammonia and nitrite should always be 0

im guessing too as youve only had the tank a month its not cycled either?