Algae Eaters.?

Question

Hi its me again =].I have 1 algae eaters (Pleco) and i was wondering what does a pleco eat besides algae?

Answer 1

Plecos may start off just fine eating algae in the tank and/or algae wafers along with whatever scraps they find as small juveniles, but as they mature their needs change.
Most Plecos are very opportunistic omnivores*, in other words they'll eat just about anything they can get a hold of but primarily subsist on vegetables/fruits.
A plecos digestive system is designed for a diet high in bulk fiber and low in protein, they need large amounts of vegetable/fruit matter and occasional protein. Their digestive system is designed to handle a lot of bulk material to attain a their nutritional needs, they need more than just a few low bulk/high protein algae wafers and whatever food they find leftover or a little algae growing in the tank.
None but the largest tanks could support enough algae to feed even a medium sized Pleco, and while enough algae would have bulk it is very low in nutrition.
A Pleco without fiber bulk (vegetable/fruit) in his diet, is a Pleco that feels like he's starving most of the time, even if he's getting enough nutrition to survive and grow.

Excellent daily vegetable supplements are, romaine, spinach and other leafy green lettuces (Iceberg is very high in bulk but very low nutritionally.) that have been blanched* first, cut/sliced zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato, broccoli stems, peas and beans (blanched and skinned), and others.
Fleshy fruits of various types can be fed too, Plecs in the wild feed on fruit fallen into river from overhanging trees. Papaya, breadfruit, cantaloupe/honeydew melon are a few examples, experiment and find what your fish likes.
It takes most Plecs a few feedings to discover and realize these are food, but after that there is no keeping them away. Some fish will even guard these foods to keep other fish away.
I found it very hard when housed with other fish to get such delights as worms and small scraps of cut fish/shrimp, shrimp pellets and other sinking food tablets/pellets down to the plecs.
Other fish can be sooo greedy.
My solution was to load their zucchini or cucumber with shrimp pellets, carnivore sticks and so on, like cloves on a ham.
Just securely attach it with clips or rubber bands to a rock or wood, makes it easy for your Pleco to find and eat it.

Answer 2

Uhh Stephie?? A pleco is a catfish that lives in freshwater.

As fas as plecos go food wise it depends on the pleco. Most are omnivores so they will eat algae, and missed fish food. Some will even attach themselves to slow moving fish. Just remember a healthy pleco should get a variety of food.

Things pleco eat:
Algae
Fish food
Algae tablets
Sinking pellets
Vegetables (they prefer it soft so give him 2-3 days)
Wood

Wood is mostly for roughage, but many species prefer wood as hiding spots. My clown pleco went under his dift wood roughly 2 minutes after i put it in. My rubber lipped pleco on the other hand prefers various plastic caves.

I personally feed my pleco a mix of algae waffers, sinking pellets, and broccoli stems. Generally I throw some in 2-3 times a week just before lights out. Keep in mind I've got 2 pleco, a catfish, and mollies. So there is a large demand for algae, veggies, and bottom food.

How you can tell a pleco is hungry:
- His tank is spotless
- He comes out in broad daylight to feed on missed food when you feed the rest of your fish.

Answer 3

I have a large Pleco and he will eat anything I put in the tank..as far as frozen shrimp and fish food. Basically he will eat anything that falls to the bottom of the tank. Plus he will keep the algae levels contained.

Answer 4

They will eat just about anything they can get - mine particularly likes shrimp pellets (they eat crustaceans as part of their diet in the wild, so I don't mind giving him a few now and then). Anything that sinks (or can be weighted down) such as slices of zucchini, cucumber, leafy lettuce, algae wafers, small piece of shrimp, etc is okay, just don't leave it for longer than a day. Some also like a piece of driftwood to scrape. Regardless of what else you give, they should have some veggies in their diet.

http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/freshwater/catfish/plecostomus.html
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10plecostomus.htm
http://tropical-fish-net.com/Scavengers/plecostomous.htm

Answer 5

these fish also eat whatever food is dropped in the tank that ur other fish donot eat that is why they are at the bottom of your tank and look like they are trying to suck up your rocks

Answer 6

Algae wafers, sold in pet shops.

Answer 7

A aleageater eats little things of bacteria among things in the sea.I thought everybody knew all that infomation I guess not.

Answer 8

smaller fish and frog bites warning:fog bites make it expand or explode big time!!!!

Answer 9

zucchini is poisonous, left over fish food on bottom of tank, not gum, leafy greens, and fish matter