A little scared.... though could be my imagination

[lizzyuru]

Sometimes the internet is my worst enemy when it comes to health issues. I am in panic mode right now with being convinced my Pleco has a fatal disease or condition. I just feel like he is acting strangely today. He has been attaching to the side of the tank with his head toward the gravel and moving upwards slowly then will scoot back down as if to correct himself (he has never done this, usually he slides down, and he has never faced head down). He also "slides" up when attached the normal way (head towards the surface of the water). His fins appear to be balancing him as if he is making an effort to stay in one place (like someone on a tight rope would use his arms to keep balance) when he is on a rock or in the gravel. It just looks like he is making a HUGE effort not to float up at some moments and at others he seems fine. He looks slightly bloated, but then again super paranoid so could just be my eyes making it up. I am mainly worried that he is having a hard time staying at the bottom of the tank. I feel like he could be using objects in the tank to stay down, but he is not lethargic, or breathing fast, or pale looking. (I did see that awful picture of the sick pleco on here back from 2008 and him getting that worries me terribly and now that is what I am so scared of) He has been also putting out his dorsal fin (but I read that is to catch currents?) which he hasnt done very often since we got him. Is he acting normal and am I being an over worried fish mama? or could he be dying??? If he is dying I am going to cry so hard (not even kidding if he is dying I will be having a candle light vigil)....I love my "little" Pleco. (dont worry I know he wont stay little)

[Lady Hobbs]

Let's try not to get to dramatic here nor worry about things that may never happen. Give your pleco a clean home free of toxins, driftwood for his diet, make sure he has enough food and a large enough tank and what will happen, will happen.

[CrunchyLeaf]

We've all been there. My advice is to follow your instincts. Nobody knows your pets better than you do. Do you genuinely feel like something is wrong?

On Sunday night of this week my sister and I felt like one of our dogs seemed "off". There wasn't really any specific thing I could say that made me think that, it was just a feeling. On what most would probably say was a premature panic we rushed her into the 24 hour emergency vet for bloodwork. She had elevated liver and kidney enzymes. 48 hours of IV fluids, 4 xrays and 1 ultrasound later she had taken a turn for the worst and we ended up putting her down because she had an extremely aggressive cancer that had originated in the intestines and metted to many other major organs.

I'm not trying to scare you and I know that was a dog, not a fish. But if you truly feel like something is "off" with your pleco, just take some extra precautions. Keep up on your water changes, maybe log his eating habits for a little while and that way if he does suddenly show symptoms of a sickness, you're right on top of it and can get him cured.

[Dennis Bissett]

As Lady Hobbs said, if his environment is good, maybe he's just amusing himself - my bristlenoses dont seem to care whether they're head up or down (or horizontal for that matter), and will occasionally go for a dart around the tank for no apparent reason

[ScottishFish]

Plecos are quirky fish, my common one will often balance on a rock so his mouth isn't even touching it, don't read too much into it

[Crispy]

honestly it sounds like typical pleco behaviour. they love strong current and can stick or not-stick as they please. I wouldn't be worried until he turns white and floats upside down.

[lizzyuru]

thanks guys. And WOAH on the dog story, that had to be scary. I recently went through an emergancy with one of my cats and if I hadnt taken him in he would have died 24-36 hours. I am keeping an eye on him, thats all I can really do as far as I know. I dont know he just doesnt seem like himself. But you never know. He could just be acting like a wierdo. Will keep you posted

[janeskid]

My spouse has a seven inch pleco, the tan-ish one with spots, that stays in the same spot, head down and tail up from dawn 'til dusk. About 14 hours yesterday. Never moves in the daylight except when disturbed.