why are my two common plecs doing this?
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funkedupkoalzz
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why are my two common plecs doing this?
i have two small common plecs, well, not too sure how big they get, but these look like babies, bout an inch or two inches big. and every now and then they dash up to the surface and then zoom back down again. it's so fast if u blink you'll miss it. why are they doing this? is there something wrong? do u think they need more O2?
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Silurus
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funkedupkoalzz
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cool
so that doesnt mean i dont have enough oxygen in the water then? i mean, i have a rekord 96 with supposedly the best filter in this range, so i see no need for an extra pump. although i just read somewhere else that if the guppies, which i have- swim againt the current towards the filter then there is something wrong. i thought they just enjoyed it! been doing it since i got them. if one starts they all start and then disperse when they've had enough!
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MatsP
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If they are common plecs, they'll pretty soon be too big for your tank...
They grow to anything between 10 to 16 inches.
And I think SOMETHING is wrong in your tank if they are gulping air. Hypoxic conditions, the term HH used, means "low oxygen" conditions.
To know more we'd need to know your water conditions:
Nitrate level:
Nitrite level:
Ammonia level:
pH I assume is neutral/slightly acidic if you use tap-water in Edinburgh area, and the water would also be very soft. You should be able to get the water tested by your LFS. They may charge a fee, and you may want to buy your own test-kit, but if you don't feel like spending the money right now, get the test done at the shop. Make sure that you ask beforehand that you want the VALUES of all of the tests, not just a "OK" or "Bad", because if they say "Fine", doesn't really mean much to me [or you], as different fish tolerate different levels.
How long has the tank been set up? If it's been up for less than a couple of months, then it's probably one of the reasons for low oxygen is high nitrite conditions, which causes the fish problems to breath properly (like Carbon monoxide to humans, nitrite will cause problems with the uptake of oxygen from the water to fish).
Gupppies aren't stream fish, so if they start swimming against the current of the filter-outlet, it's probably also an indication of low-oxygen.
Now, depending on the answers above, the solution to getting the fish more O2 may vary, so don't go buying anything to fix the problem until it's clear what is causing the problem.
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Mats
They grow to anything between 10 to 16 inches.
And I think SOMETHING is wrong in your tank if they are gulping air. Hypoxic conditions, the term HH used, means "low oxygen" conditions.
To know more we'd need to know your water conditions:
Nitrate level:
Nitrite level:
Ammonia level:
pH I assume is neutral/slightly acidic if you use tap-water in Edinburgh area, and the water would also be very soft. You should be able to get the water tested by your LFS. They may charge a fee, and you may want to buy your own test-kit, but if you don't feel like spending the money right now, get the test done at the shop. Make sure that you ask beforehand that you want the VALUES of all of the tests, not just a "OK" or "Bad", because if they say "Fine", doesn't really mean much to me [or you], as different fish tolerate different levels.
How long has the tank been set up? If it's been up for less than a couple of months, then it's probably one of the reasons for low oxygen is high nitrite conditions, which causes the fish problems to breath properly (like Carbon monoxide to humans, nitrite will cause problems with the uptake of oxygen from the water to fish).
Gupppies aren't stream fish, so if they start swimming against the current of the filter-outlet, it's probably also an indication of low-oxygen.
Now, depending on the answers above, the solution to getting the fish more O2 may vary, so don't go buying anything to fix the problem until it's clear what is causing the problem.
--
Mats