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Plecostomus2007-11-24 23:40:09

I have two Plecostomus that are 7.5 inches long. I know Plecostomus are tropical fish, but they were doing fine in a tank that was in the low 70s/high 60s. Recently I decided to replace my two-year old Oscar and am going to get one today; I keep my house at 68* so I decided to introduce a heater and put it at 79* for the Oscar. I would expect the Plecostomus to be fine in it being tropical fish, but over night one's started to develop fin rot.

The PH is fine, the ammonia levels are fine, it's a 55 gallon tank and I let it sit for a month before I introduced any fish to it. However, one has two holes with the circumference of a tooth-pick.

Any idea why they are developing this?

Are they just used to the cold?

Anyone know their ideal temperature range?

Answers:

WOW, temp change is way to fast!

You have to do it gradually. A temp change of 11 degrees is massive for a fish. Something like that has to be done over a period of a month or more.

I would lower the temp by 3 degrees, NO MORE. You don't want to play temp yoyo here. I don't know if the pleco will make it after the sudden shock, but you have got to bring it back down.

Get some stress coat, some fin rot medication and add it to the tank. Do not get your oscar yet. Give these fish time to heal.

Good Luck and Take Care

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They are used to the silent hum of the blender

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here is a great website on FIN ROT