Sailfin Plecco found dead undertank

pherfect · Post by **pherfect** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:41

My absolutely stunning 5" Gibby, which I've had since Nov., somehow got out of the 29 gal. tank sometime last night. Found it just a few minutes ago. The tank is well covered except around the power filter, Had done a water change and filled the tank 1/2" from the top. His behavior wasn't erratic. Has anyone ever had this happen? Are there any preventative measures to keep this from happening again? Or was it just a flukey freak accident?
-Chris

Post by **Silurus** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:42

What else was in the tank?

bottomdwellin · Post by **bottomdwellin** » 03 Jun 2004, 21:50

I had a very young common do the same thing.
Several people said plainly fish jump. But you need to determine why. Was it water condition, a tank mate or size. I feel that mine was tank size as the other tankmates were a school of neons and the water was good (7.0 A 0 N 0 N 5). If I were that fish I would probably have wanted a bigger home.

HTH

pherfect · Post by **pherfect** » 04 Jun 2004, 00:21

The tank is currently stocked with 2 medium size angels, a mid-size severum which I do plan on trading in. I had put him in there a few months ago to treat fungus on his head, 2 corys, 4 blue rams, 4 apple snails-average 1 1/2", 2 tetras. It's a very peaceful tank, and the water perameters are good. I was plannig on moving the Gib to my 60 gal in a few months. There was plenty of room for him at this stage.

Wood · Post by **Wood** » 04 Jun 2004, 00:43

Unfortunately I believe all plecos will climb out if given the smallest opening. Over the 20 years I have kept them I have found numerous specious on the floor. They especially go out by the filters in an attempt to (swim upstream overnite). I find them in the filters sometimes. I found my 7 inch gold nugget on the floor a year ago all dried up. But he Lived and is healthy today. Good luck.

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 04 Jun 2004, 01:29

Gold Nuggets IMO are the first to feel the effects of imperfect conditions. They come from waters which are soft and acidic - if your water is neutral or 7+, they will feel an amplified effect of ammonia and nitrites . Usually they exhibit feeling these problems by swimming up and down the glass - if the water isn't changed they may squeeze out in an effort to find cleaner water.

I have noticed that with other types of plecos - especially when trying to introduce them into an aftican tank.

I have also had a gold nugget live and thrive until I introduced a v argentea into his tank as a recovery tank for the argentae - within a day the pleco was out of the tank.