I have two Plecostomus that are 7.5 inches long. I know Plecostomus are tropical fish, but they were doing fine in a tank that was in the low 70s/high 60s. Recently I decided to replace my two-year old Oscar and am going to get one today; I keep my house at 68* so I decided to introduce a heater and put it at 79* for the Oscar. I would expect the Plecostomus to be fine in it being tropical fish, but over night one's started to develop fin rot.
The PH is fine, the ammonia levels are fine, it's a 55 gallon tank and I let it sit for a month before I introduced any fish to it... However, one has two holes with the circumference of a tooth-pick.
Any idea why they are developing this?
Are they just used to the cold?
Anyone know their ideal temperature range?
2006-10-12 03:01:22 · 6 answers · asked by TJ 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
It went from 68 to 79 over night, that's probably my problem then... Will add the meta, the fish have more medicine in the "fish box" than I do in my cabnit...
2006-10-12 03:15:13 · update #1
No white at the top of the water.
The Oscar died a month ago and the only replacements at PetCo all had very bad and very obvious HITH. I use PetCo but decided, after going back to see the same Oscar a month later with HITH, that I would just get one at PetSmart.
(Apparently PetCo has no problem with selling people fish that will be dead in three or four months. All of them had HITH but the only one still there was the worse...)
2006-10-12 03:24:12 · update #2
Water changes are about 10 gallons every weekend.
2006-10-12 03:25:13 · update #3
WOW, temp change is way to fast!
You have to do it gradually. A temp change of 11 degrees is massive for a fish. Something like that has to be done over a period of a month or more.
I would lower the temp by 3 degrees, NO MORE. You don't want to play temp yoyo here. I don't know if the pleco will make it after the sudden shock, but you have got to bring it back down.
Get some stress coat, some fin rot medication and add it to the tank. Do not get your oscar yet. Give these fish time to heal.
Good Luck and Take Care
2006-10-12 04:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Okay, was the water level okay, could you not see any white at the top of the tank? The tank will be okay at the temp you had it, you would just have to float the new Oscar for a little longer. If you want to raise the temp. try no more then 5 degrees in a day. The shock of going from high 60s/low 60s might have given them fin rot. Also, the stress with the catching of the old Oscar most likely stressed them out. That and the temp. Change is enough to kill any fish. The ideal temp. range is 70 to 80, but that does not mean you can go from 60 to 79 in one day. You should have the temp. in the tank about 74. Mine is 74 and my Oscar and my three plecostomus' are doing fine. Good Luck.
AW
2006-10-12 10:18:33 · answer #2 · answered by Red F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How fast did you get the temp up to 79 from 68? It should only go up 2 degrees a day so you don't stress the fish. If thats the case you can try adding some melafix and make sure the water is fine and it should heal.
2006-10-12 10:10:19 · answer #3 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
here is a great website on FIN ROT
http://article.discusnews.com/cat-02/fin-rot.shtml
"They do well from about 68 to 82 degrees F"
was gotten from " http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pleco.htm#set "
IF you would like any more infomation YOu can email me using the contact link on my Q&A Page. I have been taking care of fish for about 9 years now!
Hope my answer helps
2006-10-12 10:08:57 · answer #4 · answered by Adam D. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have to gradually increase the temp how often do you do water changes?
2006-10-12 10:20:21 · answer #5 · answered by C live 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are used to the silent hum of the blender
2006-10-12 10:05:20 · answer #6 · answered by krystle e 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋