Pleco Eating His Own Poopoo

[SherriSixxx]

My common pleco eats basically all his own poopoo. Am not sure if this is normal behavior....He is a very picky eater, and won't eat any vegetables etc. Only thing he eats is 1 Hikari algae wafer per day (or slightly less). But approx every second day I wake up and all his poopoo has gone!! As he is the only fish in the tank at the mo, I know he must be eating his own poopoo! Should I worry? Why does he do that?

 

[@ombomb]

Unless you have actually seen this happen ( ) I'd have thought it's more likely it's just breaking down into the gravel.

How often do you do a gravel vac?

 

[SherriSixxx]

Unfortunately I do think he is eating it. There may be plenty of poo in the tank when I go to sleep at night, and there is absolutely none left in the morning! I can't think of any other explanation. You can even see the slight marks in the sand where the poopoo was the night before, it cannot just disappear like that??? I vacuum about once a week,while I do water change, even tho there is nothing to vacuum!

 

[bunjiweb]

If he is not digesting his food properly maybe he is eating it again to get all the "nutrients" out of the algae or wafers (whatever he eats).

Cats/Dogs have been known to do something similar.

Ben

 

[rottlvr2]

Are Plecos supposed to be pooping all day long! I clean the gravel once a week and by the 4th or 5th day there is long stringy poop hanging on the plants! Is this normal? He is about 6 inches long and I have had him for about a month and a half. seems very happy.

 

[Erised]

Yes, that seems normal Plecs really do deserve their reputation when it comes to be 1 of the messiest fish around. If he's pooing 24/7, that's actually a really good sign of a healthy plec Do make sure not to overfeed him though.

 

[rottlvr2]

Yes, that seems normal Plecs really do deserve their reputation when it comes to be 1 of the messiest fish around. If he's pooing 24/7, that's actually a really good sign of a healthy plec Do make sure not to overfeed him though.

Thanks. I guess they are pretty messy. Should I clean more than once a week? the water is clear as a bell.

 

[Tolak]

Unless you actually see the fish eating it, don't assume. Plecs are very active at night, the plec may be breaking the debris into smaller pieces, which either are picked up by the filter, or fall into the gravel.

Try a variety of different veggies, hold off on the tabs. The fish won't starve, adult fish do fine without eating for up to a week. I have yet to see a common plec refuse zuccini. Start with that, pumpkin is in season now, and cheap. Mine eat pumpkin with interesting results. Quite colorful plec decorations strung around the tank.

Tolak