What do i feed my pleco?

Question

my lil pleco has eaten all the algea in his tank, and wont eat the "algea discs" what can i feed him as far as veggies? can he have fruit? i read a few things that said he can have squash and cucumbers (with the seeds out of them) does it matter what kind of squash? i have butternut, i also have carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and some fruit.

Answer 1

my pleco loves zuchinni! Cut it into disks and drop a small piece in boiling water for a second, (so it will sink) let it cool and drop it in the tank. Mine muches these up like candy and he's grown big and helathy!

Answer 2

I don't know if potatoes or cauliflower would be good.

Try some watermelon and cucumber. Seed them.

There are veggie clips sold for aquarium bottom feeders. I've heard that they like lettuce [not iceburg] and spinach but I've also heard that very few people have luck with that. The clips have little suction cups on them, just clip the food in and suction it to the tank wall and slide it to the bottom of the tank.

Just be sure to take it out the next morning [feed them at night, after you turn the aquarium lights out] so that it doesn't contaminate the water.

=]

Answer 3

maybe avocado

Answer 4

You can experiment with various veges, none of them will harm your pleco. But they like some more than others.

Cucumber, zuchini or squash are favourites and almost all plecos will eat them. Mine like button mushrooms and green beans as well shelled peas are another option.

Occasional higher protien food is good too, sinking shrimp tablets etc. But keep most of their diet vege based. If your pleco is small it may still be finding enough algae and leftovers around the tank, but as it grows you must supplement it's food with algae tabs and some fresh veges.

A big advantage of fresh veges is that you cant overfeed. Weigh down a chunk in the tank, leave it overnight to let your pleco nibble on it, and take out the left overs next day. It may take a few times before it learns that this new thing is edible.

I have a number of large plecos (4-12"), and they can EAT (and p**p!!)

Ian

Answer 5

zuccini, cucumber they love too. i can never tell if my pleco eats his algae disks..