suckers dying in tank

[kathydip]

This is a problem the fish tank at work has. They purchase suckers and they all seem to die with in 2 weeks. We finally have one that is hanging in there. I think he came this past summer. He is not the "usual" brown and black prehistoric looking sucker. Maybe it's the type that he is?
I was just wondering why the others keep dying. I had one of them in with my turtle for the longest while. He was HUGE and even though the water would get disgusting he was fine. Could it be the temperature. Sometimes the tank will go down to as low as 65.
I have to take a picture of our big fish at work and post it. I would love to know what kind of fish he is. He's my favorite work fish!

[Sasami]

I assume by "suckers" you mean plecos? Or maybe Siamese or Chinese Algae Eaters? I can't help much without knowing the species .

Why doesn't the tank have a heater? It's not so much the cooler temperatures that will bother the fish but rather the fact that the temperature keeps changing. I keep my tropical tanks at a steady 78 degrees.

Has the water been tested? I would test ammonia, nitrites, and pH especially. If the pH is insanely low it could be from high nitrates, btw.

Also, please remember that even "suckers" can't live on just algae. They'll slowly starve to death. You need to supplement their diet with frozen foods (such as bloodworms), algae wafers, and vegetables.

What size tank is it? Plecos need a TON of space and good filteration.

[kathydip]

Yes, they are pleco's. It's a large tank. I am really not sure of the size. Maybe 40 gallons? I do think they try to put too many fish in there. I didn't think it fluctuated that much. But I will have to ask. I know that the light does heat it up. The heater was in there before but they bought a new top and no one bothered to cut a hole for the heater. I just did on Thursday. Now they should never get too chilly. I never realized that you had to feed them other than regular fish food and the algae growing on the tank. Poor things! I always fed my sucker the fish flakes after I cleaned the tank. I guess I am lucky he survived me for so long.
I wonder what the sucker is that we have now. He is not the normal pleco kind that I am used to. He's still hanging in there. I will be sure to slip him some blood worms. The fish in another tank have them.
Thanks for letting me know!

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by kathydip Yes, they are pleco's. It's a large tank. I am really not sure of the size. Maybe 40 gallons? I do think they try to put too many fish in there. I didn't think it fluctuated that much. But I will have to ask. I know that the light does heat it up. The heater was in there before but they bought a new top and no one bothered to cut a hole for the heater. I just did on Thursday. Now they should never get too chilly. I never realized that you had to feed them other than regular fish food and the algae growing on the tank. Poor things! I always fed my sucker the fish flakes after I cleaned the tank. I guess I am lucky he survived me for so long. I wonder what the sucker is that we have now. He is not the normal pleco kind that I am used to. He's still hanging in there. I will be sure to slip him some blood worms. The fish in another tank have them. Thanks for letting me know!

No problem. Could you maybe get a picture?

I would get some algae wafers too . I feed Hikari brand ones to my cory cats.

[sara8]

our pleco loves bloodworms!! we feed them to the "big boys"--angels, balas, silver dollars, ect. and of course our plecos

[Skratikans]

i cant wait to see pics, mine also love cucumbers too