Markp2483 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 So today I did my second waterchange with fish on new planted tank. Tank was up and running fishless for a few weeks with lots of water changes. First time I waterchange everything was normal pleco left the wood when the water got too low. Today I didn’t notice that the pleco held his ground and was left high and dry. I panicked and tried to get the little bugger out of there but he was fully wedge. I upturned the wood to submerge the pleco again and he just stayed in the same place. Figuring nothing else to do I filled back the tank and started doing research on how long a pleco can stay out of water. Found out over 7 hours if kept damp , so feeling a bit better. I’ll be happy when I see him roaming around the tank today The question is next week when I do a water change do I just let the pleco go high and dry or try something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardeepTheLondoner Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Ooo I’ve not heard this happening before, but I feel like the same thing could happen to any suckermouths. Whenever I noticed my Whiptails/Oto’s near the water line when draining a tank, they seem to swim downwards themselves, so I figure a Pleco would do the same if it felt distressed? Hopefully a Pleco keeper will chime in 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Depends on how it was wedged but I would leave that guy high n dry, it'll give in and flop into the water before it is harmed. If it can't do that then I would periodically mist it to keep it wet so it could still breathe until the tank is refilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markp2483 Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) This is his favorite spot. Top left corner on the underside of the wood. It’s a perfect pleco sized spot. Pretty much impossible to get him out if he doesn’t want to. Can you spot the bristles? Edited January 30, 2021 by Markp2483 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Pleco can last a long time out of water I would not worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socqua Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 How big of a water change are you doing? It's tough to tell from that angle, but his current spot looks like he'd still be wet with a 25-30% water change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markp2483 Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 I do roughly 50% water changes using the canister filter intake as the siphon. The suction auto breaks at roughly 50% It’s made water changes super easy. Where he currently hides is around 15% down from the surface 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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