Pleco Feeding

[KiltedOne]

I have finished cycling my 60l tank and have added my fish, some neons a betta and 2 clown plecs.

I feed the neons flake in the morning and frozen brize shrimp in the evening, the betta gets "Hikari Betta Bio-Gold" morning and night and also seems to like the frozed brine shrimp.

I was feeding the clown plecs algae tablets at night, but they seem to be ignoring them so I added a bit of lettuce which they seem to be nibbling at, I also have a bit of bogwood in the tank as I was told they need this in their diet.

Can someone let me know if what I am doing is correct or should I be feeding them something else. I don't want to lose any fish.

thanks

 

[paul_219]

Try feeding them zucchini or cucumber.

 

[Darkstar]

how long have you had them? If they're new or have been moved from one tank to another then it may well take them a few days to settle down.

 

[KiltedOne]

how long have you had them? If they're new or have been moved from one tank to another then it may well take them a few days to settle down.

I've had them 6 days now, they are about 2" long. I do see them at night swimming around and up the glass of the tank, they look ok but i'm just worried that they aren't getting enough to eat.

How long should I leave the zucchini or cucumber in for before I take it out.

thanks

 

[Darkstar]

It sounds as if they're fine then. Plecs can often take some time to get used to their enviroment, and if they're venturing out after dark then they're more than likely getting their required amount of food. A panaques main diet should be wood anyway, with vegetable and wafers as a supplement. Gut content analysis of wild panaques have shown that wood is the only thing to be found in their stomachs.

 

[raptorrex]

how long have you had them? If they're new or have been moved from one tank to another then it may well take them a few days to settle down.

I've had them 6 days now, they are about 2" long. I do see them at night swimming around and up the glass of the tank, they look ok but i'm just worried that they aren't getting enough to eat.

How long should I leave the zucchini or cucumber in for before I take it out.

thanks

i tend to remove it when there is just the skin left. though there is the potential to cause problems leaving this in the tank, as yet i have found no evidence of it happening.
plecos also eat fallen flake, algae wafflers, fresh roast chicken (honest), ground pellets, well to be honest most things meat or veg. i don't know your pleco, but it may also be worth checking if it needs bog or mopani wood, many actually do.

 

[Darkstar]

how long have you had them? If they're new or have been moved from one tank to another then it may well take them a few days to settle down.

I've had them 6 days now, they are about 2" long. I do see them at night swimming around and up the glass of the tank, they look ok but i'm just worried that they aren't getting enough to eat.

How long should I leave the zucchini or cucumber in for before I take it out.

thanks

i tend to remove it when there is just the skin left. though there is the potential to cause problems leaving this in the tank, as yet i have found no evidence of it happening.
plecos also eat fallen flake, algae wafflers, fresh roast chicken (honest), ground pellets, well to be honest most things meat or veg. i don't know your pleco, but it may also be worth checking if it needs bog or mopani wood, many actually do.

It's a Panaque, therefore meaty foods should not be included in the main diet...and at best used as a treat.

 

[roseK]

mine is very picky, he either has the algae wafer and doesnt share with the cory (hes getitng so big he can fit the hole thing in his mouth) or hes cleaning the tank.

just give them time. and let them do their cleaning job lol if they look bad in a few days, put what they like and they will eat it

 

[paul_219]

Must not be kept more than 24 hours.

 

[KiltedOne]

Thanks for the help people , I will keep an eye on them.

Just one more thing, do I just wash the veg in water and put in the tank or do you have to do anything to it before you give it to them.

again cheers.

 

[raptorrex]

how long have you had them? If they're new or have been moved from one tank to another then it may well take them a few days to settle down.

I've had them 6 days now, they are about 2" long. I do see them at night swimming around and up the glass of the tank, they look ok but i'm just worried that they aren't getting enough to eat.

How long should I leave the zucchini or cucumber in for before I take it out.

thanks

i tend to remove it when there is just the skin left. though there is the potential to cause problems leaving this in the tank, as yet i have found no evidence of it happening.
plecos also eat fallen flake, algae wafflers, fresh roast chicken (honest), ground pellets, well to be honest most things meat or veg. i don't know your pleco, but it may also be worth checking if it needs bog or mopani wood, many actually do.

It's a Panaque, therefore meaty foods should not be included in the main diet...and at best used as a treat.

lol yep, mine only get it as a treat too, but they used to eat the crayfish moult, something i could not control.

 

[pandacichlid]

algae tablets are good, try peas, cucumber. The plecs will go around taking stuff from the gravel left over food like blood worm