Where to buy a bristlenose pleco if Petco doesn't have them?

Check the water temperature. This species does best between 68 F and 77 F. Low temps can affect appetite in fish. He may be near the heater for warmth. Check the water chemistry as well. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with a nitrate level of 20 ppm or less. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry if indicated. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. If it is a "new" tank, there may not be enough food/algae on the bottom for it. Use sinking pellets or toss in some vegetables or greens. Be sure to remove any uneaten food after 24 hours to prevent it from fouling the water.

Thanks for reaching out about Spooky and including photos. These are fairly easy to maintain as long as algae is available. They are susceptible to cold environs so don't let temperature drop below 65 F. If algae in the tank is limited, algal wafers need to be provided. Aggressive fish as tank mates can be problematic, so plenty of hiding spots are recommended. Good luck.

You can try to provide more hiding areas for your goldfish, and this may allow for it to escape from the pleco. If this doesn't work, you may need to add a barrier into the tank in order to separate the two of them. Barriers can be purchased at your local pet store, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the type/size of tank that you have. If you are able to gather information on the dimensions of your tank (gallons, length, width, and height) and take that information with you, it may be helpful for the pet store employees. If this is a recent change, you may also see if your pleco is thin - sometimes fish will become aggressive if they are hungry. You can get a general idea of the body condition of your fish by looking at their heads in comparison to their body size - if the head looks too large for the body, that can be an indicator that they are thin. Another way to tell is by looking at the belly - if it looks sunken, that is another indicator that the fish is thin. You may be able to take photos into your pet store to see if the fish are thin, or you can post another question with photos here and we can take a look as well. If you would like to discuss things further, I would be happy to do a consultation with you as well. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Hello, Many Petcos will accept surrendered pets. It depends on individual location. Call your local store and if they do not accept surrenders, they should be able to tell you the closest location to you that does. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The experts here on the forum at PetCoach do not work at Petco stores and I don't think anyone would have knowledge of inventory at local stores. I cannot find this particular product on the Petco website. It's possible that it's available at your local store and you could try giving them a call. There are a number of other fatty acid supplements listed on the Petco website that may or may not be available in your local store: https://www.petco.com/shop/SearchDisplay?searchTermScope=&searchType=12&filterTerm=&maxPrice=&top_category=&showResultsPage=true&langId=-1&beginIndex=0&advancedSearch=&sType=SimpleSearch&metaData=%5BLjava.lang.String%3B%4065f965f9&pageSize=24&manufacturer=&resultCatEntryType=2&catalogId=10051&pageView=grid&searchTerm=fatty+acid&minPrice=&urlLangId=-1&categoryId=10056&storeId=10151

Add some protein to his diet. This can be in the form of live, frozen or freeze dried blood worms or blackworms. You can also use your preferred search engine to look for "earthworm sticks" to feed him. Check the water quality as well (hardness, pH, etc.). Make adjustments as needed. Low water temps may cause stress and illness. Check your tank heater and temperature.

Thanks for reaching out. Did you use tap water and dechlorinate prior to the water changed? The dechlorinating solutions do not work immediately can take several hours to lower levels of chlorine and chloramines (typically in tap water). Did you match water temperatures? Temperature shock of even a few degrees can lead to death or depressed immune system. A veterinary visit is recommended for the pleco to assess health and recommend treatments. Good luck.