Suckermouth Catfish "plecostomus"....

[daytona]

Request Help:
I had a Pleco for 10 - 11 years....he died about 8 months ago. I then bough another, then he started the same symptoms that the 3 other new Pleco have done. It seems after about 3 - 4 weeks they start the same problems and then die....some taking 4 - 8 weeks and now the new one 4 days

Tank size: 45 gal
pH: 6.8
ammonia: good
nitrite: ?
nitrate: ?
kH:?
gH:?
tank temp: 75

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Acting irractially....speeding around tank, hitting the glass. It seems it takes an epileptic fit. And then laying upside down. After awhile lays properly and then later upside down again.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 20 - 25 gal and about every 6 months

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: just PH and ammonia to correct

Tank inhabitants: 1 Angel fish, 3 Silver dollars, 2 small catfish and 8 Killifish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): New Plecostomus (4 over 6 months) all died and this new one is real close

Exposure to chemicals:

 

[WILDER]

I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.
Best to invest in a test kit of your own liquid ones are the best.
Swim bladder what do you feed the plecs.
You should be doing weekly gravel vac and water changes, sounds like bad water quality to me.
Plus plecs are massive waste producers.

An immediate gravel vac and water change.

http/www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-mai...a_poisoning.htm

 

[daytona]

I feed them zucchini (once in awhile) I was told it is a treat. Also I was dropping a algae disc once in awhile. Other than that for years the old one lived off life and algae

Saturday, I plan on a major water change, cleaning and redecorating

PS...all the other fish are fine

??England??...it must be 2 AM tomorrow there now (Sept 29, 06)

 

[WILDER]

If you don't do the gravel vac and water change now they will die, you cannot do a water change once every six months.
Plus that big water change every six months will be sending the fish into shock through altering the stats to quick.
If you can't put the time in once a week maybe fish are not for you.
They tank it probably really bad in water quality and thats why the fish are darting about there living in a toilet.