Pleco food?

Question

How much shoudl I feed my pleco? There isn't any algae left on the tank so I've been feeding him Hikari Algae Wafers. He's only about 3 inches long, so how much should I be feeding him? I don't ever get to watch him eat so I never know how long it takes him to eat in order to judge by what the package says and I'm afraid I might be under-feeding him. Going by what I'd heard about fishes stomachs being only about as big as their eye, I'd only been feeding him half a wafer, but is that even true? How much should I feed him? The wafers are about an inch in diameter and about 2mm thick at the most.

Answer 1

I think you're overfeeding a little. I have an 8" rhino pleco and he shares 1 algae wafer with three other fish about 5 times a week.

I've heard the story about using the eye as a way to tell stomach size. Believe me, in college I dissected enough fish in zoology and ichthylolgy labs to know this isn't so.

A better way to judge feeding with a pleco is to look at the area on their head between their eyes. If it's sunken in, you're underfeeding. If it's straight (level) you're good. If it's raised in the center, you can cut back a bit.

I'd try cutting back to 1/4 of a wafer for feeding. You can also give him some blanched greens, zucchini, and cucumber. Some also like driftwood to scrape. They eat crustaceans in the wild as well, so I occassionally give mine a few shrimp pellets.

Answer 2

u shouldnt overfeeded youre fish cause the water in the tank needed be clear no bubbles clouded above the tank . cause if does the fish couldnt able breath under the water or even if him does swim on the top still dont feed him too much . if you do that feed too much the foods can flow down the buttoms and cause too many germs might make the fish sick, the water might able get dirty easlier way. well if youre fish is large size then i will just gave him least 4 pieces fish foods that all in the morning , afternoon, before going to bed. i think its willl keep him fulled. . if he just a small size then you only gave like 3 pieces foods that all cause i heard that if you over feeded the fishes can died and end up going poops alot.

Answer 3

Try feeding him cucumber or zucchini slices or wedges. (You might have to weight them down with something so they can get hold of it) I had real good success once with a 55 gallon aquarium loaded with natural plants and my goal was to get rid of any algae. When there wasn't any algae left, the Plecos I had would swim on their backs and eat flake food. They went on that way for several years until I had to take down the aquarium because I was moving across country and the Plecos were about 8 inches long. I don't believe Plecos can overeat. but don't put more food than they will consume.

Answer 4

I agree with the 2 people who answered before me.