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What happened to my daughters sucker fish?
She has a tank with 1 sucker and 4 goldfish and she noticed the water turning a weird cloudy color and white funky stuff growing on the filter. We started cleaning it out and noticed that her sucker fish is gone? Did my cat get it or did he dissolve or what. It is really freaking my daughter out.
a sucker fish is a short name for that long named algae eater. She didn't drop it because I took all the fish out of her tank for her. thanks for any help
my daughter is 14 so I know she wouldn't take it out to play ~_~
9 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Plecostomus or pleco is the name and this fish probably died from water shock from the temperature, ammonia build up, or ph shock.
Goldfish need running cold water (52-70) degrees and smaller pleco's prefer but don't need warm water (74-82) degrees. The fish died and the body dissolved in to a mucus and bacteria form that fed off the ammonia and nitrites in the water. This happens allot in aquariums. its ok. just get a bigger pleco or a larger tank. Ive seen pleco's get 3' long in a goldfish in-door pond. Good luck !!! have fun..
- Anonymous1 decade ago
A plecostomus or pleco. If he has completely disappeared he may have jumped tank (which is unlikely for a pleco), or the cat must have got him. It takes a while for a fish to break down and even then the skeleton would still be there. With a cat in the house you need a sturdy aquarium hood. With four goldfish, I hope you have an enormous tank.
- Anonymous5 years ago
You need to check your water parameters. My guess is you have high ammonia levels. Some sucker fish do grow very large, as Clown loaches do the same. The bigger the fish, more ammonia is created. You could be overstocked for a ten gallon tank. How long has the tank been set up? It might need time to cycle.
- 1 decade ago
Mine once jumped out of the tank and I didn't even realize it until I reached behind my desk to grab a scrunchie that had fallen behind there and he was stuck to it all dried up and sticky!! Ughh...I will never forget that memory. The white cloudy stuff growing on the filter could be excessive fish food that has gone moldy.
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- 1 decade ago
I would pin the blame on you kitty. Cats have this natural instinct to hunt fish...and it was probably to irresistible to him watching them swim and play..he snuck a snack when you turned your back! Naughty boy! Next time make sure that Mr.Sneaky Puss can't get your aqua buddies by securing the hood.
Source(s): 5 years of experience in fish keeping...even the most experienced of fish keepers fall on hard times.... - 1 decade ago
Actually, it's a combination of him "dissolving" and of the goldfish snacking on him. The cloudy water is full of bacteria that have also been helping to decompose his body. Gross, I know.
- 1 decade ago
maybe it got sucked into the filter?
can your cat reach the fish? If so, maybe that's why...
or maybe SOMEONE took it out to play with it and accidentally killed it. Possible?
- Anonymous1 decade ago
What the hell is a sucker fish?
