Water Parameters

pH - 7.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10

This is not my week.Just found Duncan the 11 inch without tail plec laying on his back near where he sleeps.He has no visual signs of illness except being extremely pale in colour.I have been offering him algae wafers and he is eating some of them.I added some vitamins to the tank and have just salted it to 0.1% ran out of salt so can't put anymore in till tomorrow.I'm really worried I don't want to lose this big guy.He is in a 50 gallon tank with an undergravel filter and a Fluval 4plus.Does someone have some idea of what else I should do I don't want to get up to another dead fish this week

Is this a new tank and has it cycled? How long has he been in this tank for blue? I wouldnt salt the tank as plecs dont like too much in the way of salt and being so ill it might push him over.
It sounds like he may be on his way out blue, sorry.
What temp is the water and is it well oxygenated? Anything else visible such as a swollen or sunken belly?
How long have you had him?
Is all you feed him algae wafers? At this size a common needs meat in the diet as well, such as bloodworm and some raw fish.

Yes this is a cycled tank its been running since january.Temp is 81F.I often put bloodworm,brine shrimp and daphinia in but I don't know if he ever gets any of it.Between the fluval and the two pipes of the UG there is plenty of agitation of the water surface.He seems normal except he is doing rather large trailing normal colored poop.I've had him for over 18months I'm guessing he was around 4 or 5 when I got him.
This tank was set up in january he was moved into it from a 30 gallon which now houses some of my goldfish.

Long trailing poo in a plec is constipation. Can you seperate him so you can fast him? If not then fast the whole tank for 3 days and see if that helps. Plecs that eat far too much get long trailing poo but ive never known one to keel over before. Hope he gets better.

This may seem odd but now he's eaten a bit some of his color has come back I just don't get it
I figured he may have been a bit constipated given on one occasion his poop trailed the whole length of his body.I can't isolate him as I don't have a tank or container big enough to house him.Fasting whole tank is prob a better idea as a couple of female swordtails seem a bit constipated as well.With him being under the weather is he going to be ok being fasted for 3 days ?

He should do ok for three days and then try peas or even cucumber weighed down. You may have to cut back on what you are feeding and if you are feeding a lot of the delica stuff then you are going to see a lot of constipation with too much protein.

I only feed the delicia brine shrimp,daphinia or bloodworm a max of twice a week.I alternate feeding between the three.Is there any complete diets you can get for larger plecs that would better suit his needs.Would feeding him catfish pellets help.His color isn't bad today so I'm fasting the whole tank.Here's hoping the constipation is all thats been making him off color.People may see them as ugly but I think mine is cute and I love the huge monster.
Thanks for your help Sandy

I love big plecs, just havent the room or filtration to keep one. Add some greenery to the diet and he should do fine with what you are feeding. Also, a bit of bogwood might be handy for him to rasp on.

Took on board your advice Sandy been out and treated the big guy to a nice sized peice of bogwood.I've got it soaking in a bucket just now.Duncan's color is still pretty good and he hasn't decided to lay on his back again since last night.Wonder if he was just trying to frighten me as as soon as I lifted hood last night he was off like a shot.
Thanks again Sandy

Keep us updated as to how he does Blue.

Well I have good news.Duncan is back to his old self.His color is back to its usual dark black he's also more active.He's still got till thursday before he gets any food.Guess the constipation must have been hurting him like anything.Least he's all better now