BN Not really eating

gailawall

Member
Apr 28, 2011
23
0
1
Florida
My plecos have been "sitting" on the lettuce, zucchini, carrot, but not really eating it very much. In fact just 2 days ago I lost my femail bushynose Ancistrus after she displayed this action. I offer wafers and a variety of vegs and an occasional mango (they love it) or a piece of avocado. They look okay to me. I got 3 females and 1 male in March.
I am worried.
 

Jimmy

Member
Mar 21, 2011
251
0
16
UK
It could be some kind of bacterial infection causing a loss of appetite.

Does your tank have any substrate or is it bare bottom ?
 

bigbird

Pleco Profiles Moderator - RIP FRIEND
Sep 9, 2010
6,306
1
36
Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Sorry for the loss of your female. It is always a worrying sign when an L is not eating and glad you picked this up. I would try getting peas, slightly blanch them, peel and feed. Also I would offer a protein wafer to them.
Ideally catch the one not eating and hold in a fry saver or Quarantine tank so you can monitor better. Also look at the poo and tell us what colour it is. Is she bloated ? What tank size and gravel do you have. The more info the better cheers jk :thumbup:
 

gailawall

Member
Apr 28, 2011
23
0
1
Florida
I have a 55 gal gravel bottom, I change water 2x week. I have offered the algae disks and peas. What is a protein wafer? Doesn't look bloated. I tried the picture taking but they are camera shy :) and get themselves too blurry!
I can't catch 'em. Tried that with the female before she expired.
The BN's share the tank with Discus (5), hatchetfish (5) and black neons (5).
I'll try again to get a picture. THX
 

Lornek8

Member
Apr 21, 2009
2,001
0
36
Hawaii
I have a 55 gal gravel bottom, I change water 2x week. I have offered the algae disks and peas. What is a protein wafer? Doesn't look bloated. I tried the picture taking but they are camera shy :) and get themselves too blurry!
I can't catch 'em. Tried that with the female before she expired.
The BN's share the tank with Discus (5), hatchetfish (5) and black neons (5).
I'll try again to get a picture. THX
How often do you clean the gravel?
How deep is the gravel?
Often when problems occur only with bottom-dwelling species the issue has something to do with the substrate. The water in the tank can be okay, which is why you don't get problems with the other fish.
 

gailawall

Member
Apr 28, 2011
23
0
1
Florida
My gravel is about 1 inch deep. When I change the water it is by sucking the gravel junk out. Always gravel cleaning, not just taking water out of the tank. My little Cory is okay.