Getting My Plec To Eat - Update Please Help

[JamieH]

Hello there...

I got a large (10") sailfin plec for my RIO 240 last week and I'm getting concerned about feeding it.

Within two days it has stripped my tank, rocks, plants, everything completely clear of any trace of algae. I was initially pleased about this because he looks a bit 'skinny' from the shop.

However, since then he seems to be ignoring other foods.

I've tried adding some peas popped of their 'shells' - they have not been touched, likewise cucumber, courgette, and potatoe, ditto tablet food and algae waffers.

I've been adding the foods last thing at night after lights out a nd checking first thing in the morning - my severums go mad for the peas and cucumber almost as soon as they 'wake up'

the plec however, appears not to have touched anything i've put in so far....

what else can i try?

Details about the tank:

Silver sand, mopani wood, Tetratec ex1200 external filter filled with alfagrog and foam, returns via home made venturi.

Tankmates: 3x small green severums and 2x gold, 6 tiger barbs, a female blue acara.

 

[KathyM]

He'll come round - gibbies are notorious greedy guts. Try some plec wafers with him to get him in the mood, but courgette etc are favourites too. Mine didn't like cucumber to be honest, but he went crackers for courgette and melon. If he's shy it might be that he will prefer being fed at night, but it could take him a while to come round to his new surroundings.

I would be concerned though that your tank isn't big enough for him, certainly not in the long run. He could grow at up to an inch or more a month and already he's a bit on the big side for your tank (gibbies commonly get to 18-24", but you prolly know that).

 

[LisaLQ]

I agree with Kathy - try courgette and cucumber after lights out. But to be honest, the tank isn't big enough for him, or the severums. Am I right in thinking the "golds" are severums too? You may have to go down to one pair once they've paired off, and get a bigger tank (around 5ft x 2ft x 2ft minimum for the two sevs and plec) as sevs can get to 12", and apparently the recommended minimum tank size for a pair is 300l (absolute minimum). I keep mine in a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with plecs and rainbows.

 

[JamieH]

thanks for the comments.... the stock will indeed be thinned out... and i intend to upgrade to a bigger tank next year. most likely a six footer.

i guess i'll just have to be patient and keep seeing if he'll get used to the new foods... i guess you always want a new fish to eat like a pig and then you can be sure it's alright.

my stock will be reduced too by the way... i'm hoping to get a pair out of the five of them.

in particular one of the gold sevs is magnificent even though he's only about 5" - he's grown much faster than the rest. if he'd just pair with one of the green's i'll be happy.

 

[JamieH]

.... ok....


Now I'm worried...

My plec isn't actually eating anything.

i added some led moonlights to my tank to watch him better - he's active during the day, but doesn't move if he's see anyone move in the room... and pays no attention to food.

anyway, i've been adding courgette, peas, and algae waffers at night after lights out, and have been pleased to find no trace of them first thing in the morning.. well the courgette has been well-chewed, the others gone.

However, since i had the moon lights, i've been able to see the plec, which seems oblivious to movement in the room, but been horrified to see my gold severum eat the peas i put in last night and go wild for algae waffer tonight.

so my - very skinny looking - plec is not actually eating at all... and has stopped producing poo.

between the whitespot, my parrot fish, and this... i'm worried about whats going on in my tank


his stomach is starting to look like it's receeding... i'm not sure what else to try.

 

[black angel]

An anorexic plec isnt a good thing to have. Youve only had him a week so i would think maybe internal parasites. Dont know if plecs are prone to skinny disease or not.

 

[Anita]

Try a prawn (my plec's love them).

Anita

 

[mr williams]

Try a prawn (my plec's love them).

Anita

My plecs happily go for frozen mussel too. Maybe he just doesn't like people watching him eat?

 

[nmonks]

Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps are omnivorous plecs, so you could try offering something a bit more "meaty", ideally at night. One option is to go to your local grocery store and buy a cooked mussel (or a live one if you can). Plecs seems to enjoy these, and they can scrape away at the shell more easily than other fish. Also try bloodworms, though in a community tank you'll need to put these in after dark. A whole prawn or a bit of whitebait might also be useful, as plecs will generally eat these, two. If the filtration is really good, one thing plecs really enjoy is oily fish like salmon or trout, as these "smell" nice and really get their attention. Only use a little at a time, because these will pollute the aquarium if used in bulk. In 200 gallon tanks I used to use bits of mackerel head, and practically all fish go wild for these! For some reason, oily foods often entice fish to feed in a way clean foods don't seem to. I've had the same level of success using frozen lobster or shrimp eggs, which are decidedly greasy, but even fussy gobies and glassfish will attack these straightaway.

That said, this isn't a carnivore plec, so once you have the thing feeding properly, meaty foods should be a treat rather than a staple.

On the greens front, consider blanched lettuce (lettuce literally dropped into boiling water and pulled out after a second or two) and spinach. Plecs seem to enjoy both of these. I've yet to have a plec that doesn't enjoy courgette or cucumber, though the latter has virtually no nutrition. Carrots are usually enjoyed by my Panaque.

Since these are (I believe) mostly farmed, the risk of internal parasites probably depends on the quality of the exporter, but shouldn't be any worse than the average mass-produced angelfish or guppy.

Cheers, Neale

 

[LisaLQ]

If it's his appetite and not illness, it might be worth trying soaking his food in garlic first - apparently this is a sure fire way to get a shy plec to eat. Potato is apparently best for malnourished plecs, as it is high in carbs (or sweet potato), but my plecs prefer to eat courgette. Bumping the temp up a little helps increase their metabolism too - but if you've had whitespot in there, I'm assuming the temp will be up anyway?

Dont suppose he's being bullied at all by the cichlids? Saying that, I find it hard to imagine a 10" gibby being scared of some sevs...

 

[Rhiannon]

Hi Jamie

I have a bristlenose for a week now, and every morning I come out and it doesnt look like he has touched his zuchini (and they are beautiful zuch's I grow them myself!).

I asked on another forum about it, and they said to soak the zuch (or whatever vegie) in garlic water because it acts as a taste and smell stimulant and the catfish cannot resist it. They said to only do it until he starts eating the vegies.

I also feed my boy sinking shrimp pellets and in the middle of the night when I get up to get my daughter a bottle, I find him eating them.