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Plecs are eating all my fish!

2K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  kitten_penang 
#1 ·
I have had both my plecs now for a couple of years never really had any problems until about 4 months ago. All of a sudden we come down each morning to NOT find the latest casualty! I've lost copious neons, guppies, both the male and female SFs and the angel. We've been baffled for a while but had started to suspect the Plecs as they were not going near the algae wafers. Last night I got the shock of my life. There was one of my albinos with its face eaten off and the Plec lying right over it appearing to have a good munch. Now I think we caught him out as the tank light had not been on all evening as we had been out unexpectedly late. (When I say him - I don't know, we have two, one larger than the other, who vigorously rearrange the tank but never seen any babies).

My question - If I am feeding them well (AW, brine shrimp, cucumber just before lights out) Why the hell are they eating my fish?!

I have to say I will be gutted to get rid of them as the plecs are my favourites to watch. The tank is generally very peaceful, I have been off sick all week and there has not been anything noticeable going on, not even a little bit of moodyness.

Thanks for any replies.

Jo :-?
 
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#2 ·
I would suggest it is more likely that something else is killing the various fish, and the plec is simply eating the remains. Many fish will readily eat a dead carcass if they find it. And many species of plec are not strict vegetarians so will not pass up an opportunity as they would have in nature, eating whatever they find along the way.

But having said that, there are pleco species that will kill other fish if they are very small fish and the pleco is large enough. You'd have to provide us with the species and size in order to pursue this. But I am still inclined to the above theory.

As for why the fish are dying, if you post tank size, water parameters (pH, hardness, nitrates, nitrite and ammonia numbers), number and type of fish, someone may have ideas.
 
#5 ·
but they will try to eat mucus off of sick fishes.be on the look out for those signs as there is something seriously wrong with that fish and you'll need to qt the affected fish or re-home the plec while it heals
 
#8 ·
I dont think that the pleco could eat another fish, though I have heard stories of it. Like stated above he is probally just cleaning house and getting rid of the remains. I have seen 2 of my plecos eat a large wag in one night.
 
#9 ·
I've also heard of plecs eating other fish and becoming quite agressive. Plecs are nocturnal so sleeping fish at night are easy prey for them, especially if the fish are small. The plecs will also "suck" other fishes slime coat off because it is a source of protein. This means that even if your fish are too big for Lloyd to swallow, he may be sucking their sides at night and leaving them vulnerable to other infections.
 
#10 ·
could be but most of the time if the fishes were healthy they would swim away quickly.most of the time if they don't a few days later the fish will get sick =(
 
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