Aquarium with a potential fish after thought dead

ShawnMcc

I have aquarium that I have had at least 4 years with out any real use. Now I was cleaning it out I found fish poo. I cleaned again found more under a plastic thing. Is it possible my old pleco is still alive in there? Even though I only occasionally added water and left the filter off for a long time. I have seen water movement but it might have just been the filter. So I might try shutting it off to see if I can find it. Any other suggestions?

ShawnMcc

I see that some of the drift wood I have in there is gone. Like somthing had eaten it. It is very shy I dont know what to do to get it out to be seen. Maybe I could try some cucumbers but I dont know if it will eat them in front of me maybe a camera on all day if I can find a large enough memory card or somthing.

1077

Poor care usually result's in dead fish.
From care you desribe,I would be surprised if fish is still alive.

Tazman

Only real way to know is drain the tank and check.
It is possible if he is large enough he might have survived but with no maintenance then it is likely he passed on. If he did survive he is likely to be very poor health.

ShawnMcc

I removed the aquarium decorations. I have not seen it. Ithought i saw a glimpse of somthing but it was to quick. The water is cloudy right not cause of the cleaning I did. So I will wait and see. Because of when I drain it turns the water to brown to see.

Termato

Do a Massive water change. If he is alive it will give him a better chance of living AND you will be able to see in there better.

ShawnMcc

I just noticed to the top half of the aquarium is completly free of algae. Like somthing ate it. I will keep a look out see what happens after the water change.

1077

Massive water changes to neglected tanks ,or tanks where water changes have been few and far between often cause more stress to fishes than a series of smaller more frequent changes for same negelcted tanks.
Fishes will try to adapt to enviornment they find themselves in, even poor condition's.
They do this through osmoregulation, as they try to adpat to metabolites and mineral content present in their enviornment.
Sudden large changes,,even for the better,, makes this more difficult for the fish = stress.
Bettter in neglected tanks, such as the one mentioned here,, to perform perhaps small daily, or every other day 25 % water change and work slowly up to large water changes to allow fishes to slowly adapt to changing enviornment.
NOTE..

With regular weekly water changes from the outset of tank set up,,large water changes cause no issues unless... water being used is much different than what is normally used each week which if regular changes are performed,, can't happen to any large degree, unless one is using chemicals,powder's potions in the tank.
With regular weekly water changes the water in the tank will be close to that of the souirce water and fishes will thank you for the fresh,clean ,water by remaining healthier than those fishes where maint,water changes are lacking.IME

Termato

Thanks 1077 that was a very good explanation. I didn't really think about that shock it would cause the fish to go from poor water to cleaner water.

ShawnMcc

Thanks for the info. I have been doing about a 25% water changes cause my bucket I use only alows that any way. Only one day I did 2 buckets. I havent seen the fish but my plants are doing perfectly. Growing like nothing.