I have a 33 gal tank fresh water and I have large placostamus[blonde] and he keeps coming to the top for air....Am I starving him for air> GAWD I change the filtre all the time change water every few days 5 gals. What is up With Plato please? Thanks Biggrrr aka Brad
2006-11-13 11:17:10 · 6 answers · asked by biggrrr2004 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
It means that the pleco is not liking the quality of the water. One of my pleco has been doing this for almost a year, it's still fine, grew a lot, moves a lot and is very healthy. Get your water checked.
2006-11-13 16:12:36 · answer #1 · answered by rahimj_27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brad, the "suckermouth" catfishes (plecos) very seldom come to the surface for air. That is a trait of the corydorus (two small whiskers at mouth) catfish. They do it all the time and it is not anything to worry about.
Is he a new fish to your tank? If so, the pH may be radically different than what he was living in at the store. Check with the store to see what their pH is and slowly adjust yours to that and then slowly let it go back to your pH. He should be OK then.
Plecos come from rivers in South America where the water is very acidic (around 6.0-6.5 pH). They can get used to higher pH's, but it takes them a little time. Too quick of a switch will send them into pH shock and kill them.
Is he an old fish in your tank? If you are changing 5 gallons every five days, your water should not be a problem. If you have just started doing the regular water changes, the water may still be toxic from not doing them for a long time. If this is the case, do a 40% change right away and follow up with a 25% change every three days for 6 days (2 more). Your water should be perfect at the end of this time.
Do you have any driftwood in the tank? Suckermouth cats (plecos) need wood in their tanks. They constantly scrape on it and actually eat the fibers of wood that they get off it. It helps their digestion and keeps them healthy. The wood also helps keep the pH down, it softens the water.
Email me if you have more questions, I have around 25-30 plecos and one of my albino pairs has a batch of eggs that should be hatching in about a week. Looks like about 30-40 eggs in the clutch.
Water changes should be done every week (25-30%). This is the single most important thing you can do to keep your fish healthy. The filter only needs to be cleaned every 4-6 weeks.
2006-11-13 20:42:42 · answer #2 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop changing the filter. You should only change the filter once a month. Same with water changes, only once a month. The reason for this is to let the water age so your tank can establish its self.
2006-11-13 20:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by kitty 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a 65 gallon and mine does the same thing...I am pretty sure that it is normal. I have a very good air supply in my tank.
2006-11-13 19:20:14 · answer #4 · answered by mojoethecat2003 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Usually that is a sign of bad water quality. Usually. Sometimes, it is just a quirk that some fish do on their own.
2006-11-13 19:58:59 · answer #5 · answered by William D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes your fish needs air you need a air pump
2006-11-13 22:31:00 · answer #6 · answered by jkillerj69 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋