Why Is My Plec Hiding?

marieukxx · Jun 26, 2011

I have a pitbull plec. He's been fine for weeks mainly at the front of the tank on the gravel cleaning that or on the glass. This past week he's nowhere to be seen. I know where he's hiding, he's at the back of the tank hidden by a plant. Why do you think he never comes out now?

The only change was I added 20 cherry shrimp which all sadly got eaten.

N0body Of The Goat · Jun 26, 2011

Sulking because he is a social fish? Can you get him a couple of new "friends"?

marieukxx · Jun 26, 2011

Well I did want two but they were £9 each at my lfs so I opted for just one at the time. Do you think another two would make him happier?

Tizer · Jun 26, 2011

I got 3 of them and they all skulk about at the back behind the vallis, rarely see much of them in the day. Most of the info out there says they are quite shy fish.

fluttermoth · Jun 26, 2011

I think they probably are naturally shy, bit I'm sure he'd like some friends to be shy with if you can possibly manage it

Crazycat lady · Jun 27, 2011

I have the same issue with my gold banded plec! It all started when I stupidly got a synodontis.
My plec and chinese algae eater(sam) were living very happily together. Sam was up most of the day and my pleco (cptn jack) usually came out in the evening
To suck on the glass with him. When the synodontis came in jack was very upset and hid all of the time.
The syno has moved house now and jack just hides in his coconut house all the time.
I even sneak down at 2am to see if he's up but he's still hiding

maisy12345 · Jun 27, 2011

Hi Marie ,i`ve got 2 pitbull plecs,and mine dont hide ,never have done ,so maybe it`s because he`s on his own,don`t understand why he`s just started to hide though ,have you added any new fish to the tank,and what killed your cherry shrimp?
Also have you checked your nitrites,as if they`re high it makes the fish lethargic?
Hope you sort it out x

Crazycat lady · Jun 27, 2011

Hmm wonder why that posted twice! Anyway I have just made my plec a cucumber
Kebab to cheer him up. Maybe the coconut house it just really comfy, I am debating getting him a friend
Although I have no idea if it is a him (for some reason I call all my bottom feeders male names)
How do you sex a pleco? And I really don't wanna pick him up or kick him out his house to check as he's already depressed.

england · Jun 27, 2011

Id imagine you cherry shrimp got eaten by your tank mates, most would munch on a small cherry shrimp, as to plec hiding, plecs mostly are active at night, ive had my fair share of plecs, the clown plec was always hiding, sometimes you would go months without seeing him, for plecs and other catfish style fish you really need to dim the lights, i found a good way was with duck weed, grows like a rash mind,so if you do you will need to keep removing and binning some, :good:

set up tank so theres alot of areas to hide, watch them in the wild, there always attached under rocks and scurying along sides of waterways..Very active at dusk and night time