Is this an unhealthy poop?

[Nautilus291]

I got this shot a little bit ago of the pleco. What do you guys think?

[BBJ]

It looks a little stringy; is the pleco showing any other signs of illness? Maybe an internal worm.

[Nautilus291]

He seems to be acting normal to me, but I recently lost a female pleco, so I've been watching the tank closely and noticed this.

[Nautilus291]

Do you guys feel with the recent loss, and then the way this poop looks I should just start treating the tank? And if so what should I treat it with?

[Rocksor]

looks like a pleco that isn't eating much, not necessarily parasitic

[Nautilus291]

looks like a pleco that isn't eating much, not necessarily parasitic

I have wondered if my acara and severum steal the food I put out at night for the pleco. Since I've re-home the severum I have noticed he gets more food during the day now, but maybe I can get a cave that only the pleco fits in and then put his food in there that way the acara can't be so greedy.

[SueD]

Try feeding him some zucchini also. I leave it in for at least a day. Raw, no need to blanch or anything.

[angelcraze2]

I have wondered if my acara and severum steal the food I put out at night for the pleco. Since I've re-home the severum I have noticed he gets more food during the day now, but maybe I can get a cave that only the pleco fits in and then put his food in there that way the acara can't be so greedy.

I noticed my plecos weren't getting enough food in my 90g. The male looks a lot like yours. I am increasing how much veggie I put in, adding the rounds at night. One in the male's cave, and two under the driftwood on the other side for the females. My angelfish (8) eat the rounds if they can find it. But they can't get at it in the cave or under DW.

[angelcraze2]

I'll add you kinda have to keep an eye on plecos. My albino male in the 120g is nice and fat, but I don't feed him as often. I still see him eating the diatoms at night. I guess the algae in the 90g is not enough to feed all the plecos in there, so I have to supplement more veggie. I also have to feed my male pleco in the forever QT tank more food since it's low light. So like I say, I look at my plecos to see how much they need in each tank.

I don't necessarily think the poop looks unhealthy, but if they always look that way with more food.... I'd keep an eye out. He looks healthy otherwise imo.

[Nautilus291]

Thanks for the suggestions! I have been feeding some blanched zucchini, but he doesn't seem to go nuts for it. I'll try putting them in the tank fresh and see what happens. I've been putting other veggies in the tank, seems to like peppers and cucumbers. I couldn't tell if he eats the broccoli or not.

This is the first time I've ever owned plecos, and I didn't realize that he looks skinny. I wish I would have realized sooner that they weren't getting enough food, maybe I could have saved the female.