It is a 20 gallong freshwater tank. Nitire is a little high right now, but going down. There is a Blue Platy and Silver Molly in there right now, live plants. I keep having to buy new sucker fish because about 1 week later they will die. I have been putting Algae Waffers in about every 3 days as added food but they dont seem to eat it (at least the last one did not). Any suggestions at what I am doing wrong?
2007-03-02 03:49:21 · 7 answers · asked by nekoboymax 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
They are Omnivore
2007-03-02 04:04:45 · update #1
Stop getting plecos, they are not suitable for a tank that small. Common plecos hit 20" long. Even the smaller bristle-nose and rubber-lips grow to 5-6" and are too big for anything smaller than 40 gallons. Plus, they're one of the biggest waste producers you can find.
I don't know why your's are dying so soon. Do you know exactly what species you're getting? Some of them are carnivorous and would eat shrimp pellets instead.
How high are your nitrites? Nitrites should be ZERO, so should ammonia. Plecos are more sensitive than your other fish so if you have nitrites or ammonia, they will be the first to die. Your nitrates should be between 10 and 30ppm.
Anyway, once your nitrites and ammonia go down, I would suggest a few oto cats or corydoras instead.
2007-03-02 03:55:50 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Did you buy the all the plecs from the same dealer or pet shop? If you did try a different shop,it could be his problem not yours,it doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong,they are quite hardy resilient fish so the nitrate or nitrite levels shouldn't really affect them, as long as they are not too high.Take a sample of your water to a reputable fish shop and ask them to test it for you,then at least you can eliminate your water as being the problem.20 gallons is a bit too small,but even that wouldn't affect the fish straight away.
2007-03-02 04:28:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
20 gallons is a little small for a pleco. I had one in a ten gallon (very bad mistake) and it stayed 3" for over a year. I gave it to my brother who put it in a 75 gallon tank and it is now 17" long. The old adage "the fish grows to the size of the tank" isn't really true....it just stunts the growth. I would recommend getting a algae eater(not pleco), they don't get very big.
2007-03-02 04:09:58 · answer #3 · answered by to be announced 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
your tank doesn't sound like it's finished it's cycle, don't buy ANY fish until all readings are perfect. plecs are very sensitive to imperfect water qualities and will succumb. they poop like machines, so if cleaning wasn't kept up with they would only add to the problem.
also what size plec are you buying? if it's under 1.5" don't buy it, they're SUPER delicate at that age and should only be attempted by experienced plec keepers.
you say you have live plants, large plecs, which are too big for your tank, and smaller plecs can have a habit of rearranging plants in your tank.
why do you want to keep a plec? do you like them as a fish or is it just to eat algae? if it's just for algae i would suggest a group of 5 otocinclus, BUT do not buy them until your tank is cycled and you have a healthy covering of algae in your tank.
don't buy a Chinese Algae Eater or Golden Sucking Loach, they're little demons!
2007-03-02 04:20:27 · answer #4 · answered by catx 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's doesn't sound like your cycle is completing. Part of that cycle includes you doing partial water changes. Keep them up or you are headed down a bumpy road.
2007-03-02 04:08:39 · answer #5 · answered by midraj 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well it should be a tropical fish tank.another thing is that u can buy food for it. well dont buy them evry week if they die its kind of a waste of $. talk 2 pet store ppl
2007-03-02 04:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by patriots94 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
maybe ur such a bad owner they cant stand life
2007-03-02 06:15:19 · answer #7 · answered by Matt B 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋