Pleco Fish Ilness

Question
Originally the pleco fish was dark grey/brown almost black with spots (healthy).. recently he has lightened in color to a brownish color and in spots he is almost tan. I feed him algae discs once a day, the tanks is 40 gallons that is kept at 80 degrees, and the only other fish are 4 young piranhas. The piranhas have eaten the neon fish and crabs that we put in there (unsuccessful advice of online forums) but the piranhas have been leaving the pleco fish alone. He usually hides underneath the wooden pieces all day long but I suspect that the piranhas have nibbled a bit on his tail.

Is the change in color an illness of some sort and if so is there any way to cure it? or do they just change colors throughout their lives? I'm assuming its probably an illness and I would like to save him.

Answer
Hi Heather,
  Plecos do change color for various reasons.  It might not be a disease per se, it could just be stress induced from the piranhas.  
Keep in mind that you can put any fish you want in with piranhas, they will all end up as piranha food sooner or later. That's what piranhas do
and they are very good at it.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>