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I found my rubberlip/bulldog pleco lying on his back with his belly sticking up earlier this morning. I was wondering if he was dead and then he scooted over a few inches on his back and has remained stuck to the base of a plastic plant. His dorsal fin is raised and I see some lighter color banding on his skin. Are these stress bands?

I've had him just over 2 weeks now. He was active the first few days and cleaned the whole tank of algae. I haven't seen him eat since then but have noticed he has had poop, so he must be eating something. I've dropped in Hikari algae wafers but neve seen him eat it. I think the cories get most of it.


I have him in an Eclipse System 12 with 6 one inch cories (trilneaus), 2 bamboo shrimp and 1 amano shrimp. Water parameters last night after a 50% water change were all fine: pH: 7.2, Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrates: 5.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Well, the white banding has gotten larger and pleco looks a little stiff. Hard to see if his gills are moving because he is kind of hidden.

Anyone?

What temperature are you keeping the fish at?

I had my heater set at 75 deg. Farenheit.

That's a little high for a rubbernose. Try lowering it to 70 and see if the situation improves.

I know its at the top of the range recommended for the rubbernose, but I also have some three-lined cories in there and its sort of a happy medium. My pleco seemed fine for the first 2 weeks.

Sad to say, but my rubberlip pleco, Mick Jagger, has died. Can't figure it out. Water parameters I just tested are fine: pH 7.0, NH3: 0, NO2: 0, NO3: 5.

The only thing I can think of is the major water change I did 2 days ago might have stirred up some bacteria in the gravel or the addition of 3 more cories stressed him out as they were swimming around him and eating his algae wafer. He was so peaceful and didn't seem to be bothered when the other fishies were slapping his face with their wagging caudal fins.

Sorry for your loss. Chaetostoma species, on the whole, are a sensitive when it comes to temperature or any change in water parameters. Even though they are small, they do need "running room." Please correct me if I'm wrong, anybody.

Thanks, I'll definitely keep that in mind should I go for another rubberlip pleco.