Clown loaches stealing plec's food :[

[Raechal]

My sailfin pleco is about 5-6 inches and my two clown loaches are around 4-5 inches. They both came with the 55 gallon my mom bought at a church for $50.00. He had nowhere for him to hide during the day. It was just gravel, fish, and water. So my sailfin is used to being out during the day and doesn't really mind it.

I was feeding them today and dropped 5-6 algae wafers in the tank. (They are the small ones, they are orange and brown...I forget what they are called) But everytime I try to drop one near him, another fish grabs it in their mouth and trys to eat it or the clown loaches will dive and attack it. My poor pleco was trying to snack on an orange one and the clown loach swam right up to him and snatched it from his mouth!!!

I also drop catfish shrimp pellets in there for the loaches. They are greedy and eat everything. The pleco looks like he has a full tummy all the time so he looks like he is getting enough food...Should I do anything about this or is this normal?

I also drop algae tablets in there after I turn the lights out.

 

[WILDER]

He should be fine, best to drop a few in when light out, just to make sure he's getting enough, which you are doing.

 

[Raechal]

He should be fine, best to drop a few in when light out, just to make sure he's getting enough, which you are doing.

My clown loaches are so greedy! They will take a catfish pellet and swim around the tank with it in their mouth and bring it to their cave. Then they swim around and look for more. They take food from my other fish's mouth!

 

[WILDER]

Sounds funny to watch, yes i have some greedy fish, like by fancy goldfish, and the panda corys always seem to be eating.

 

[pseud]

I have the same problem with my balloon mollies. It makes me mad, especially since my clown pleco is new and I want him to settle in nicely!

I just rearranged the tank now, and when I feed the algae wafer I distract the fish with flakes while i quickly put the wafer in. I physically place it by putting my arm in the tank, and I position it between two pieces of driftwood that make up part of his territory. It works good, the fish can still get it, but not so easily and not as soon.

So, try hiding it from the other fish.

 

[Raechal]

I have the same problem with my balloon mollies. It makes me mad, especially since my clown pleco is new and I want him to settle in nicely!

I just rearranged the tank now, and when I feed the algae wafer I distract the fish with flakes while i quickly put the wafer in. I physically place it by putting my arm in the tank, and I position it between two pieces of driftwood that make up part of his territory. It works good, the fish can still get it, but not so easily and not as soon.

So, try hiding it from the other fish.

I have lots of fish in my 120 gallon. One of them always sees me placing an algae tablet near my pleco.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Try feeding them catfish pelets in one end of the tank; when the loaches are busy eating the catfish pelets and are distracted, give the plec his algae wafer at the other end of the tank.

 

[Grey Legion]

I have had Clown loaches and a pleco in the same tank for years ( they share the same cave )

the Loaches only come out at night as does the pleco so I don't really know who gets what to eat but they are all doing well, so they must all be eating...don't worry about it to much unless you see the plec getting thin..

have fun !!