do plecos breath air?

Question

ive found websites that say they absolutly dont and some that say they kinda do..

I have an established 20 gallon tank been up for 4 months now. But i see my plecos in both of my tanks go up to the top pretty frequently as if they were breathing... But filters/aeration isnt the problem.

No they dont seem to be in any discomfort. And i do clean if 1-2 times a month, depending on what my tests show. And i change filters regularly. I just notice them go up to the top all the time was wondering what it was.

Answer 1

obviously.... they do

Answer 2

The only "air" they should be breathing is the dissolved oxygen in your tank water.

If your fish appear to be gasping for air at the water's surface, this indicates a problem with too much ammonia or nitrite in your water, or a lack of oxygen from too warm of water. You need to do a 25-50% water change if this is the case.

Answer 3

Plecos, like any fish, do need oxygen, which is why you have to keep aquarium water clean and oxygenated. They acquire this oxygen from the water by filtering it through their gills. Therefore, plecos do breathe in the sense that they take in oxygen from the environment, but they do not breathe in the technical sense of respiration, as mammals do.

Answer 4

yes they do... all fishes do... fishes does breath with disolved o2. (some fishes does and does have a capability of not ie bettas)my pleco also do that... before i was thinking on why it really moves up.. .then i found out that plecos do want to go up if there is no adequate 'food for them' not air found on the tank... i do have a good powerfilter, heater, and water levels so i rulled out the problem with the water... maybe your pleco must be feeling the same... clean tank does not acutally make them feel so good but it helps...

good luck to you and to your pleco..

enjoy

Answer 5

The only "air" they should be breathing is the dissolved oxygen in your tank water.

If your fish appear to be gasping for air at the water's surface, this indicates a problem with too much ammonia or nitrite in your water, or a lack of oxygen from too warm of water. You need to do a 25-50% water change if this is the case.

Source(s):

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/diseas...
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/diseas...

Answer 6

Mine never does he/she, just chills out at the bottom of the tank. Either way, you need a filter, and air to keep your tank clean so I assume youre asking for curiosities sake.

Answer 7

They breathe dissolved oxygen in the water, like most, not all fish. they MIGHT have oxygen deficiency-you could try putting in an air pump.

Answer 8

i think that their gills are closer to the middle of their body so they can have their head sticking out but still have gill s in the water.

Answer 9

dno

Answer 10

they do