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My Pleco Plays Dead!

Discussion in 'Freshwater General Discussion' started by jrow8162, Feb 27, 2009.

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  1. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    My Pleco Plays Dead!
    I have a 7 year old Pleco in my 55 gallon community tank. He is about 11-12 inches long. He has been playing dead lately. He will lay at the bottom of the tank upside down. Mouth doesnt move or anything. I have to stick my hand in there and touch him to get him to move again. He's doing it next to my air stone. I think he likes the bubbles. Anybody ever seen anything like this?
     
    jrow8162, Feb 27, 2009
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  2. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    i used to have a dojo loach that used to play dead until oneday when he really was dead lol but that was b4 i was into fish he was my bros lol
     
    stevenrox, Feb 27, 2009
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  3. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Can't say that I have! Send him into americas funniest pets. Lol!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Feb 27, 2009
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  4. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Its crazy! I just added the air stone and he just lays upside down on it.
     
    jrow8162, Feb 28, 2009
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  5. stevenrox

    stevenrox New Member

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    i even saw my dojo fat one time haha
     
    stevenrox, Feb 28, 2009
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  6. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    He seems fine sometimes. He's really old so I always check. Touch him and he moves so I guess he's just laying on the airstone.
     
    jrow8162, Feb 28, 2009
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  7. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Maybe he's in zen mode? Lol!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Feb 28, 2009
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  8. Guidoman888

    Guidoman888 New Member

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    Was he doing fine before you added the air stone? Then he might just really enjoy it :)
     
    Guidoman888, Feb 28, 2009
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  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    I wouldn't keep poking at him, you may just stress the silly guy out.
    He's prolly like why in the world must they keep touching me..I know I'm sexy, but darn...can't I just have a few minutes in peace?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Feb 28, 2009
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  10. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Sad news... He went belly up last Saturday... :( I just bought a new one tonight. I've now gone from a foot long pleco to a 2 inch long pleco. 7 years is a long time but I figured I would have him longer.
     
    jrow8162, Mar 6, 2009
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  11. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Awe...sorry to hear that. What kind is the new one?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 6, 2009
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  12. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Same kind... Just your regular everyday pleco. Not real sure what the actual name of them are. A lot of Algae grew in my tank in the last week so he's got his work cut out for him. He's behind the heater now. He went to work immediately. I may put another one in there to cover more of the tank. I want to put one in with my new Cichlids but I want to get a different kind.. Any suggestions?
     
    jrow8162, Mar 6, 2009
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  13. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    hmm...you want one with a tough exterior (cichlids will pick at them).
    I can tell you DON'T get a hi-fin.
    Rubber lipped Pleco, Bristlenose Pleco...I'd go with one of them (Both stay smaller and depend on tank size you could get a couple)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 6, 2009
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    My suggestion would be to NOT place a pleco in with Cichlids. More times than not they will not survive very long.
     
    Anthony, Mar 6, 2009
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  15. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Depends on what kind of Cichlids Anthony and what type of Pleco.... Common Plecos are GREAT with Oscars and also more aggressive sometimes than the Oscars :)
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 6, 2009
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  16. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    hence my hi-fin comment. He got munched. Lol!
    I went with the assumption of just had to have one regardless and tried to pick the ones best suited for hiding well.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 6, 2009
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  17. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    I kept a Pleco with my Snakehead when I had him. He's the one fish that the snakehead didnt eat. The only time my pleco got picked at was when I had the Managuense. He also shared the tank with a large Tiger Oscar and an Orange Pike. Neither of them ever messed with him. You think the African Cichlids would pick at a pleco? I'm new to African Cichlids so i'll take any info I can get.
     
    jrow8162, Mar 6, 2009
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  18. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    My Common Pleco used to beat up one of my Oscars to get to the food first :)

    Plecos can be evil little things :confused:
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 6, 2009
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  19. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Go killer Plecos!!!
    <--I personally love my bristlenoses (my males are finally getting their handsome spikey bristles) Yay!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 6, 2009
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  20. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: My Pleco Plays Dead Update

    Do you bristlesnoses eat at your driftwood... I read they eat A LOT of wood! That is one reason I never got them.
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 6, 2009
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