MY PLECOS KEEP DYING

So I love having plecos in the tank even though i almost have no algae. Every time i go to my lfs, i end up coming back with a NEW pleco, because the last one died, and so the one before. So yesterday i went to my lfs and got a pleco. this morning, he's lying on his back. Dead. I really need help because i dont know what I'm doing wrong. I try feeding him like sinking pellets but he had no interest so I asssumed the fish store had fed him.

My Tank:

6 neon tetras

4 corycats

1 betta

3 ghost shrimp

5gl.

filter/waterfal

heater 26°C

live plants

drift wood

two rocks

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Comment by jhonmark on November 18, 2012 at 7:57am: Maybe your Pleco is sick.

Comment by Betta on November 18, 2012 at 7:58am: IDK,,,

Comment by jerry mc cichlid man on November 18, 2012 at 8:25am: how long has this tank been running

?

Comment by Raymond Boulanger on November 18, 2012 at 10:37am: truthfully maybe it just one fish to many .... thats quite a stocked 5 gallon as is

Comment by Betta on November 18, 2012 at 11:28am: ya probs. its 20l, but its been running for about 5/6 months

Comment by ŦůRbö ۰ Ҏяѻ ۰ on November 18, 2012 at 5:27pm: That is odd. Plecos are usually hard to kill. Pool cleaning companies in Florida and surrounding state actually use them to clean abandoned pools. All I can think of is the tank size. It is recommended for a 3" pleco to be in a minimum 70 gallons. They grow to be a foot to 4 feet long (depending on species) they need a LOT of room to swim, if there isnt, they give up on life, if you will. From a fellow Pleco lover, I would highly recommend a larger tank; or you will keep having them die. I have one in a 30 gallon, hes only 4" but the second hes 5" hes in the 75g. (only reason hes in a 30 right is that I just moved, and broke my filter for the 75, so he'll have to wait till I can get another filter.) This is why, if you ever noticed, there are usually some dead ones in the stores tank, or they only have a few. (unless its a good store and have them in a larger tank.)

Comment by lc on November 19, 2012 at 7:37am: I wouldn't put a pleco in a 5g. Its just not enough room for them to swim and feel comfortable in. Not to mention that plecos poop every hour of the day. I think he or she would be a bit too messy for a 5 gallon! Usually I say when selling my bristle noses minimum tank size of 15-20 gallons. Commons should have at least a 70g as they get HUGE. Like Turbo said, you will keep having them die unless they get the proper tank size. If I were you I would hold off on the plecos and stick with the fish you already have in the tank.

Comment by Betta on November 19, 2012 at 3:26pm: ok thanks everyone!!! this has really been helpful, and so i guess ill just go with a few otto cats! how many should i have?? (i ordered my ADA 45x24x30 and can reccomend any other fish? thanks!! and im ordering the aquasoil amazonia, is that good for my cory cats?

Comment by lc on November 19, 2012 at 5:16pm: Please don't take this the wrong way, you are already overstocked - no more fish!

Generally people do not recommend oto cats for tanks under 20+ gallons as they must be in groups of 5+. On top of that you already have plenty of bottom feeders - adding more could cause unnecessary stress! If I were you I would skip the algae eaters alltogether. They are not required. Your shrimp will likely pick at whatever algae grows in between your weekly partial water changes. The new tank is just under 10 gallons yes? I would put your current fish in that tank, and get another cory. Then you are completely stocked - meaning no more fish. In a 5 gallon I would't have anything but the bettas and the shrimp. There really isn't enough room...What you have in a 5 gallon is what I would recommend for NO LESS THAN a 10 gallon!