Early symptoms

[lyh]

Instead of telling each other what to do when their pleco fall sick, maybe we can get this thread rolling on the early signs of sickness to prevent accidents from happening. Normally I will not wait until things happen then rectify it. Any abnormal behaviour will cause my red alert alarm to go off and the particular fellow will receive more attention. Basically they are:


Not eating: Stress from transport or new environment if it is a new fish. For fishes that have been with you for sometime it could be intestinal parasite or fights among its comm members
Flapping of pectoral fins: Not enough O2, stress (for panaques)
Stay at the side of tank: Stress
Stay near surface of water: pH crash or not enough O2These are some of the signs that the fish will exhibit when there is something wrong. Please add in and correct me if I'm wrong on the above. :o:D

[Edmundo]

Outstanding thread...... Well Done.... :)

From mine past experience, if i find any plecos lying around listlessly and out from their usual hideout, somethinig wrong is happening.... :)

[lyh]

Outstanding thread...... Well Done.... :)

From mine past experience, if i find any plecos lying around listlessly and out from their usual hideout, somethinig wrong is happening.... :)

Any examples? I'm still newbie to pleco so my knowledge is limited. :o

[Edmundo]

Any examples? I'm still newbie to pleco so my knowledge is limited. :o

ususally they will pack one coner, even when you approach the tank, knock the glass they aso bo chap de.... their color aso changes..... stress coloration.... i dun have any life example at the moment.... *touch wood* :D

[Dimitri]

one thing i encounter abt plecos is whenever their dorsal fins refuses to 'relax' and is constantly 'flared' up is another sign of red alert..................

[Dimitri]

Any examples? I'm still newbie to pleco so my knowledge is limited. :o

when one bugger is always out in the open and not taking cover from DWs and stay put there indefinitely........................

[barmby]

Yes. Agree with the points been highlighted. It is good. Because one die the rest will follow if you fail to scoop the dead and decomposed