My Plecos Fish Keep Dying

Pleco are bottom-feeding fish that help to keep the tank clean and free of algae. Owners are often puzzled by the pleco fish when they die unexpectedly, even though all the other fish in the tank are thriving. Pleco fish need more than just other fish's waste and algae to survive in a tank.

  1. Feeding

    • Both overfeeding and underfeeding can lead to the death of pleco fish. If the fish gets overfed it will die due to obesity-related issues. If the fish starves to death it will die from lack of food and ability to find food in the tank. Owners need to remember to feed both the regular fish and the bottom feeders, especially as the pleco fish gets older and bigger. Owners should feed the pleco fish once a day.

    Diseases

    • Common diseases that plecos can have are cloudy eyes and itch disease. Cloudy eyes prevents the plecos from seeing the areas in the tank and can hinder their mobility. Change the water and give the pleco antibiotic drops if it has cloudy eyes. The drops can be purchased at a pet store. Itch disease causes white spots on the fish. The plecos will swim in a strange fashion and rub against objects in the tank. Plecos that have white spots should be isolated from the rest of the tank.

    Chemical Balance in Tank

    • The pleco fish does best in a tank that has between 6.0 and 7.0 pH balance. Test the tank with a pH testing kit by dropping some of the tank's water into a test tube and then dripping the directed amount of testing solution into the tube. Reading the directions on the pH testing kit to be sure you're doing it right.

    Temperature in Tank

    • A pleco also can die from being in a tank that is too hot or too cold. Fish that are freezing in water below their normal temperatures will display slower responses than normal and eventually die, while fish who are exposed to hot temperatures will get overheated. The ideal temperatures for a pleco fish is between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Aquatic Community website.