Forgot to do introducing new fish steps? What should I do?

[sub-80]

Hello;

Got a royal pleco and I forgot to do the introduction steps, I just took it from the tank and placed it into the tank. Is it going to die? What should I do?

[gt turbo]

Originally Posted by sub-80

Hello;

Got a royal pleco and I forgot to do the introduction steps, I just took it from the tank and placed it into the tank. Is it going to die? What should I do?

Wait it out and hope that the parameters and temp weren't too far off, add some API Stress Coat if you can to ease the transition.

[Nubster]

Some fish are more sensitive than others. I don't know anything about the royal pleco, but for better or worse, there's lot of folks that float the bag and dump the fish without any issues. I used to be one of them. Never had a fatality. These days I do drip acclimate all my livestock, for the record. I wouldn't worry much about it. Nothing you can really do at this point anyways. Just play the wait game and see if the fish goes belly up or adjusts and does ok.

[sub-80]

Its been more than 12 hours and the royal pleco is still alive but seems tired? I just added Seachem "paraguard" which is good when adding new fish or getting rid of ichs (White spots).

[wendyjo]

Why would you use a parasite med on him in this case? Is he showing signs of parasites? What else is in the tank with him?

[sub-80]

It says on the bottle that it's good for introducing new fish.

[wkndracer]

Originally Posted by sub-80

It says on the bottle that it's good for introducing new fish.

The only thing that helps protect things when adding new fish doesn't come in a bottle, pill or powder,,,,
entry quarantine

good luck with the fish

[VisionQuest28]

Originally Posted by sub-80

It says on the bottle that it's good for introducing new fish.

It says this because the company is suggesting that it is a good idea to treat new fish for possible parasites. It has nothing to do with "helping" a new fish acclimate or feel better or happy or whatever. Unless of coarse that fish happened to be infected.

[sub-80]

Anyway the royal pleco is fine, but i worry that he isn't eating. I had a twig fish that acted in the same manner and died 2 weeks later.

[VisionQuest28]

Originally Posted by sub-80

Anyway the royal pleco is fine, but i worry that he isn't eating. I had a twig fish that acted in the same manner and died 2 weeks later.

So, i apologize ahead of time if this isnt the case, and i dont mean anything bad by it...but do you know anything about the fish you bought? I ask this just based on a couple of the things you have said, which makes it sound to me that you're not very familiar with pleco's...

First, you say it "seems tired". What does than mean exactly? First, pleco's dont really swim around or behave like most of the "usual" fish we are used to. The are kind of sedentary, not moving much. And they like to hide... atleast DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. They are nocturnal fish, meaning they are most active after lights out.

And second, you say its not really eating. What are you attempting to feed it? They are predominantly algae eaters. They probably arent going to eat most of the normal types of food, atleast at first, maybe never. Some seem to catch on to eating regular flakes and pellets, but in my experience usually not. They will eat the algae off the glass and decorations etc, and also algae wafers or specialized foods...

Again, I am sorry if this is all old news to you. Like i said, it just seemed that you may not have been aware of it.

[76dragon]

If its still alive after a couple of hours, your water parameters are fine. It will survive. Plecos tend to hide and forage for food. Try to have some driftwood for them to chew on

[sub-80]

This is the first pleco I've owned. I forgot that they're nocturnal. But they usually there are some movements during the day. I try to feed it Hikari mini algae wafers. I guess i am worried since i had the problem with twig catfish. This is the first time i spent 42.5 dollars on a fish (pleco).

[longgonedaddy]

They also need wood in their diet. Make sure you have driftwood in the tank. They also get somewhat large, so hopefully you have a 75 gallon or larger.

[VisionQuest28]

It may be eating at night, if there are any wafers left. Might have better luck with 1 large normal size wafer, that you feed at night. Then you could monitor and keep track if its being eaten or not. Also, what do you have in the tank? Any places for it to hide? If it has places to hide it may actually be more active. Its probably just sitting still because its doing its best to remain hidden and unseen, and for lack of anything to try to blend in with, sitting like a stone out in the open is the best it can do.

[evilhorde]

My bristlenose pleco LOVES raw zuchini. I realize that these are different fish, but it may be something that yours likes as well and since it doesn't harm anything, why not try?

I use a stainless steel rod to pin a slice of zuchini to the substrate since raw veggies float. My pleco will chase anything away that gets too close to his zuchini at any time of the day.