My Snowball Pleco

[picothepleco]

Does this pleco hide all of the time and only comes out at night? I have had mine for about two months most of the time he would hide in a cave and I only saw him when the tank lights where off, however lately I have been seeing him out and about with the lights on. I'm wondering if (A) he's feeling more comfortable and less shy or (B) He's so hungry that he's desperate enough to search for food  when the lights are on. I haven't been very successful in getting zucchini to stay at the bottom of the tank (if anybody has any suggestions on this, that would be greatly appreciated) and I am worried that he may not be getting the nourishment he needs. What other kind of vegetables can I feed him, he doesn't seem to like algea wafers. Any help would be great, thanks.

 

[Mikey1]

Does this pleco hide all of the time and only comes out at night? I have had mine for about two months most of the time he would hide in a cave and I only saw him when the tank lights where off, however lately I have been seeing him out and about with the lights on. I'm wondering if (A) he's feeling more comfortable and less shy or (B) He's so hungry that he's desperate enough to search for food  when the lights are on. I haven't been very successful in getting zucchini to stay at the bottom of the tank (if anybody has any suggestions on this, that would be greatly appreciated) and I am worried that he may not be getting the nourishment he needs. What other kind of vegetables can I feed him, he doesn't seem to like algea wafers. Any help would be great, thanks.

 
 
get a small flat rock, or a piece of slate works well,
 
wrap an elastic band around the rock and zucchini slice, that will hold it down on the bottom of the tank, you can do the same thing with a piece of lettuce also,
 
you can easily tell if a pleco is well fed or hungry by looking at its belly, it should protrude out, not in,
 
generally speaking plecos are more active at night/in the dark

 

[picothepleco]

Great idea! I just happen to have a nice piece of slate. Rubber bands won't hurt the water quality? My pleco (his name is spoticus) does look a little skinny. Do I need to blanch the lettuce?

 

[DyArianna]

I saw on someone else's post they just took a zucchini and sliced it in half lengthwise and set one half of it on the bottom for awhile. They were talking about how their pleco made a boat out of it.

 

[Mikey1]

Rubber bands won't hurt the water quality?

 
i have been using them in my tanks for 15+ years....never had a problem