Feeding Pleco's

[secondtimer]

Hi i have just introduced a new type of fish into my tank, and he is a pleco. I had read in my book that I would need to feed him pellets instead of the normal food. The pellets that I have are definatly for plecs and sucking catfish and it says to put the pellets in just before the lights go out. It also tells me to remove any uneaten food with a net. Now the thing that I'm confused about is how long to leave the pellets in there for. Neither my book or the pot in which the pellets came give a length of time in which it is safe to leave them in at the moment I think I could be leaving them in to long and that this might distabilise my tanks ecosystem any advise would be gratefully recieved.

 

[simonas]

welcome to the forum by the way

plecs need specialised feeding and not just left to scavenge so you are already doing morethan most by considering your plec

Maybe feed the algae wafers after the lights have been out half hour or so, I;dleave a couple in over night and check the next day to see if any waste. your plec will become braver, you may also try the likes of zucchini. what type of plec is it?

 

[secondtimer]

welcome to the forum by the way

plecs need specialised feeding and not just left to scavenge so you are already doing morethan most by considering your plec

Maybe feed the algae wafers after the lights have been out half hour or so, I;dleave a couple in over night and check the next day to see if any waste. your plec will become braver, you may also try the likes of zucchini. what type of plec is it?

Thanks

The people in the japanese koi company where I bought him said that he was a dwarf variety.I was looking for a sucking fish that wasn't going to eventually fill my whole tank. I was told that he will eventually grow to between 5 and ten inches. I am glad that you say he will become braver because at the moment I very rarely see him at all I know where he hides though and know he is alright.

 

[fishnovice]

welcome to the forum by the way

plecs need specialised feeding and not just left to scavenge so you are already doing morethan most by considering your plec

Maybe feed the algae wafers after the lights have been out half hour or so, I;dleave a couple in over night and check the next day to see if any waste. your plec will become braver, you may also try the likes of zucchini. what type of plec is it?

Thanks

The people in the japanese koi company where I bought him said that he was a dwarf variety.I was looking for a sucking fish that wasn't going to eventually fill my whole tank. I was told that he will eventually grow to between 5 and ten inches. I am glad that you say he will become braver because at the moment I very rarely see him at all I know where he hides though and know he is alright.

5-10 inches???Big difference! You don't normally get such variation within a species which makes me think they haven't a clue what plec species they sold you, especially if they are koi specialists. You should post a picture of your new plec and get a definite ID for your plec which will also help others to advise on the best diet for him. Mind you as Simonas said, you can't go wrong with algae pellets and zucchini as all pleacs seem to love veg. mine also like sinking catfish pelletd which I feed them in addition to fresh veg (Courgettes, cucumber or boiled potato) every day. Yes I know they are spoilt!