Any situation outside the normality of an aquarium will cause stress in the plecos. It’s essential to be aware of them to know how to recognize and minimize their adverse effects.
Transport is one of the leading sources of stress for fish, as it involves confinement, movement, and rapid environmental changes.
Sudden changes in the aquarium environment, such as in temperature or water quality also lead to stress. However, these stresses are easily reversed and, when well managed, with a period of rest and good quality water, pose less danger.
When stress comes from fights, traumas, or constant poor water quality, the problem is greater; In addition to open wounds being a gateway to infectious microorganisms, we need to find why these problems are happening and fix them one by one.
Several times they are multifaceted, and the aquarist can overlook some significant facts that will continue to generate stress.
