Frozen shrimp

[Squirrelbuddies]

I've read that plecs need more "meat" in their diet as they get bigger. I feed brine shrimp on occasion - but none of the shrimp ever make it to the bottom of the tank as the congos eat them all up!

What about regular frozen shrimp (like the kind people eat)? Is a thawed, peeled, raw shrimp ok to feed to plecs?

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi there,

First question... Which type of plec to you have as that will determine the amount of meat (if any) commonly accepted in their diet.

Species such as the Hypancistrus (Zebra, L046 being one of the most recognised examples) do require more meat in the diet.

I have used prawns when I was keeping a group of L264 (Sultan plec/Leperocanthicus josemali) without any problems.

However if you have Ancistrus then meat only forms a small part of the diet, or if you have a Panaque species then meatforms an even smaller part of the diet, if at all.

Regards

Andrew

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hi Andrew - thanks for your reply.

I have two common plecs together in one tank and a gold nugget in another tank.

They are all still pretty small at this point: 4 inches, 3 inches and 3 inches.

I just want to be sure I'm providing them with the right foods. I've been feeding them algae wafers and fresh zucchini. Plus there's plenty of algae in one tank which grows on a large flat rock. The two common plecs keep this pretty well cleaned off!

thanks-
s

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi 's'

For the common plecs I wouldn't make a big deal of making sure they had meat, they are a proper omnivore and will pick at the algae, veggies and any of the other fish food you use that gets to the bottom.

For your gold nugget though, they do like mosquito larvae, little bits of blood, black and white worm as treats, and these titbits will be well received!!

Andrew

 

[SirMinion]

We occasionally weigh down a (thawed) frozen sprat in our plec tank which is hungrily fed upon by the ancistrus, leperocanthicus and panaque plec species that we have.

Usually though, they have weekly live or (thawed) frozen bloodworm as their protein suppliment.

Our common plec actually steals prawns from our Fahaka Puffer and takes them back to his cave to eat them.