The Puffer Forum

I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this but she's taken a turn for the worse. I have an 8 year old female BN pleco who isn't doing too well (it's been about 2.5 weeks). It started with her looking pretty thin, her belly was sunken in. I also think she was breathing more heavily, and continues to do so. It might be my imagination but I don't think so. I upped her feeding and added yummier foods (homemade). She was eating well, gained weight, and has held it back on. Now her appetite has decreased and she's very lethargic and somewhat unresponsive. All of the other fish have been doing well and acting normal this whole time. I don't know what to do for her and she really isn't that old.

1. ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = 10
2. 20gal long, 2 bettas, 1 DP, and 2 BN plecos, some cherry shrimp.
3. The plecos get Ocean Nutrition algae wafers, NLS wafers, shrimp pellets, and home made frozen food. Water is changed weekly, 50+%, and dechlorinated with Prime.
4. Only change in the last week has been increased feeding for the pleco.
5. Tank has been set up for about 6 months. It housed a school of cories, sold those, emptied the tank and added the 2 plecos and 1 betta. A few weeks later the 2nd betta was added. The DP was added about 1 month ago after a 3 week QT. The same filter stayed on this tank the whole time.

Thanks.

IPs?

I have no idea. Unfortunately she passed away shortly after I posted. Such a shame, she should have had more time I'm really going to miss her, I hope she didn't suffer much.

Sorry you lost her. I have no useful info as to why it happened. Keep a close eye on the other inhabitants. I do have to say, you will see your dp taking a ride on the bettas fins at some point. That's a guarantee. I had a couple of dps that seemed fine with my betta, then I saw that. Have a backup ready as I guarantee you will need it

The tank is divided into 3 sections, no worries Betta/pleco, puffer, betta so the bettas can't see each other and try to fight through the divider.

I see. I should have guessed that lol

My guess would be breeder exhaustion. Males do tend to be pretty randy, and with single females, I'd rotate them in and out periodically. Over-breeding is hard on a number of species females, and BN plecos are definitely among them. While the male is egg-tending, get the female out and keep her out until she is fat and happy and egg-laden again (at least 6 weeks for me). If you have spare tank space, using three females in rotation to one male will give them long lives.

I have 5 BN whites that you are welcome to

I've had mine going since the tank room was set up (~25 years). None of the originals are still around, but the breeders are only the third and a few fourth generations.