New Pleco Won't Eat...

[BBrain]

I just bought my first Pleco two days ago. It is a small (2 1/2", 6cm) Spotted Bristlenose Pleco. There are no bristles, so I guess it's a female.

She hasn't eaten anything that I've given her yet.

It is now the third night (11:30PM), and I'm hoping she will finally start to eat something.

So far, she has refused to eat a slice of raw zucchini, and Aquarian Algae Eater Sinking Algae Chips. Earlier this evening, I tried a Hikari Algae Wafer, and caught her taking a look at it, but she scurried away when she saw my tiny flashlight.

I have seen her moving a bit, along the old piece of Malaysian driftwood, that's been in the tank about a month. I'm hoping that means she has been grazing the thin film of diatoms or algae on that wood.

Should I try something meaty, like frozen bloodworms?

 

[dylema]

Hi,

Don't worry yet. Some times my Bristle noses don't seem interested in the food I give them, they might leave algae wafers till the morning or even longer. I would guess that there is a fair but of 'stuff' on the surfaces of your tank if there is no other algae eating fish or snails in there. I wouldn't try something meaty like blood worms as they don't really eat that much meat.

BTW 6cm is still pretty small so there is a good chance that she/he hasn't grown any bristles yet. Mine took about a year to start growing them (about 7-8cm).

 

[BBrain]

Thanks very much, Dylema, for putting my worry to rest, and also for the advice on the diet.
Have a great weekend!

 

[BBrain]

I finally saw him eat....5 days after I got him! But I think he might have been grazing on micro-algae on the wood piece. But now I saw him chew on an algae wafer! Very secretive and skittish fellow, also!

 

[dylema]

Yes you will probably find he eats more with the lights off and no one watching.