Pleco floats sometimes floats upside down

**pjs518** · 11-27-2012, 02:09 AM

Help please, I've inherited 2 very large about 12-13" long plecos .. have been doing fine . did fight a bout of ich but was able to cure. Current problem is one of the plecos sometimes floats upside on top of tank and i'm afraid he is dying. I've research and have read about fasting and feeding peas tried first time tonite. Any one with any other advice? or tips? I really don't want to lose this beautiful fish. I have 30 gallon tank in addition to plecos i have a pair of catfish and about 4 tropical fish

**Northerly** · 11-27-2012, 02:11 AM

i can assure you that your tank is too small for the plecos, you should see if you can get the LFS to take them. Or upgrade your tank. Although, 2 common plecos shouldn't be in ANY LESS than around 100 gallons.

What kind of catfish do you have?

**Goes to 11!** · 11-27-2012, 02:26 AM

Please post a picture of this tank, We love pictures and it would also help us with your pleco.

**Dennis Bissett** · 11-27-2012, 08:40 AM

How long have you had the plecos? In a 30 gallon the bioload hit would be like an atom bomb, even if cycled the ammonia would skyrocket. I suspect your filtration hasnt coped, although I'm surprised the pleco was the first to show distress. Test the water and advise ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, and yes the tank is way to small for ordinary plecos

**Brhino** · 11-27-2012, 01:02 PM

agree with everyone else about the tank size and filtration issues... also, what are you feeding them? Floating upside down strikes me as a digestion issue although that may be a secondary concern at this point.

**scotchbonneteater** · 11-27-2012, 10:07 PM

A friend of mine had a 12" plec in his 70gal with some cichlids and they were doing fine until another friend gave him another plec and a gourami, his filter was not big enough to handle the bio load and he ran into all sorts of problems and lost a load of his stock. big fish small tank/filter = major issues/death. You need a bigger tank and filter 100gal+ and even then you will prob lose the fish during the cycle!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

**Kyle17** · 11-28-2012, 01:17 PM

ur pleco could be suffering from some different issues
1. Bloat - eating to much so the stomach is larger than normal so they ( fish normally float upside down)
2. Stress
3. not enough room to swim so that could be stress contributed too
4. over stocked with fish could add stress too.

this is what was running threw my head when i was reading ur post.

i agree with Northerly too