HELP! rusty pleco being weird....

[ccole]

for f*uck sake.....

My rusty pleco is being really weird - he is sitting really still in a place that i can see him (he never lets me see him!)- i was worried he was dead so i touched him and he just wiggled a little but didnt shot out of the way....

I have had him for four years and was almost fully grown when i got him...


his belly is fine, he has no external sores, ick bumps lumps or anything i know to look for!

All the water parimators are normal for my tank - the tank has been running for four and a half years prox


Any one got any suggestions.... please :cry:

 

[JackGillett]

Water tests, and have you done a water change in the past week?

 

[Doodles]

Which parameters have you checked? Is this same tank you been playing with the PH?

 

[JackGillett]

Also has he changed in apearance?

 

[ccole]

sh*t, bum....poooooooo

I have check ph which is 6.8 .....and unfotantly for me/him it was the tank i lowerd the ph:wb::wb::wb::wb::wb::wb::wb::wb::wb: it was orignally over 7.8 when i changed it but is normally about 7.4. I changed it because i was worried it was over the chart....

I dont a water change about a 5 days ago at 25% which is my normal rutene for past five years.....

the tank is understocked with 5 gouramis and 8 corys and my 135 and rusty

the amonia is 0....

My kit has run out to check the rest - should i go and get another one now? (when i say me i mean my ther half as i am house bound so would have to get her to leave work , which i would do for him)

the temperature has droped4 degree's because my heater broke last night and have seen it this morning (6hours after last checked) i have put a new heater in an am increasing temp by 1 degree every half hour)

Could this be the problem?
Should i do a water change to increase the ph natually to what it was before?

thanks ev31 :cry:

 

[ccole]

no change in appearance - no colour change , no sunken eyes.... his just lost all vava vummmmm

 

[JackGillett]

Ph shock mate. Raise it back up but gently over the day. What's the L135 like?

 

[ccole]

craper.......what a twit i am. The l135 and all the other tank mates are totally normal. thanks for your help jack (again)

 

[JackGillett]

S'ok mate that's what were here for. Don't get cross with yourself, we all make mistakes. Just literally do I cup of water per 5 minutes. Declorinate the water in a full bucket or container, and take from there. Keep posted mate

 

[ccole]

thanks jack - just dont like hurting animals... im not a softy i sware! thanks again... ev3 5 mins....im on it,
cole

 

[JackGillett]

Yeah yeah it's never nice when a fish is sick. He should be fine mate just a bit of Ph shock. Just don't stress him out and be gentle. I've done it before, but they have pulled through. Keep me updated mate :thumbup:

 

[D-MAC]

It does sound like ph shock if all your other parameters are ok...Just raise it slowly as Jack has suggested and add a bit more O2 and some prime if you have it...If you find no response to this over the next few days, let us know.

 

[ccole]

would some melafix make him feel a bit better? will be sure to let you know- thanks again
respect cole

 

[JackGillett]

Don't mean to conflict with d Mac but I'd leave prime or mela unless there is no improvement by tomorrow morning

 

[ccole]

OOOOOooooo what to do what to do..... does medication affect the water jack? wahts your thinking then>?cole

 

[JackGillett]

I try and keep as much chemicals out the water as possible while a fish is stressed, if he is ANy better by 6 o'clock dont add the med, but if not add the med but do not over does it at all, cheers, nd thanks for listening etc

 

[ccole]

lol @ etc....
agree with chemical, i dont normally add chemicals either but i panic'd with the ph and changed it probally for second time in my fish keeping life! i thought melafix was natural?respect cole

 

[JackGillett]

like I Said add it if there is no change :thumbup: hope he gets better, my fingers are crossed for you mate

 

[meloizias]

Yeah dont add any chemicals, he hasnt got any sort of infection so melafix would be pointless, it is just a PH shock so just return it to normal slowly and that should do it. he might be a bit funny for a few days, but should return to normal soon enough

 

[JackGillett]

Goodluck mate