I have a pleco and probably 50+ baby guppies and no other fish in a 15 gallon tank. I know a pleco is an algae eater, but I'm a worried, new momma to 50 guppies!!
2007-04-04 11:15:46 · 8 answers · asked by Sara C 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I have a pleco and probably 50+ baby guppies and no other fish in a 15 gallon tank. I know a pleco is an algae eater, but I'm a worried, new momma to 50 guppies!!
Please note that I had NO choice in the amount of babies in my tank. I had them separated in a net breeder/separation tank suspended in the water until recently. I took the babies home for spring break in a different tank, left a feeder in for the rest and my guppies got sick then died a couple days later. So I figured there was no harm in letting the babies out into the tank with just the pleco.
2007-04-04 14:12:46 · update #1
Don't worry, pleco are pretty much strict vegetarians. Your babies should be quite safe.
MM
2007-04-04 11:22:24 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baby Pleco
2016-10-15 06:36:59 · answer #2 · answered by esker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Note that most pleco species are not an algae eaters. They are night feeding scavengers. Most like a lot of veggies in their diet, but they will eat anything that fit in it's mouth. (Of course guppy fry are rather quick.) If you throw in an algae wafer, zucchini slice, slice of broccoli stem, or the like before lights out a couple of times a week. He may be too full to bother with the fry. Also the guppy fry may like it as well. (Note pleco prefer their veggies soft so give him 2 days before giving up.)
PS- Personally I'd root for the pleco as 50 guppy in a 15 gallon tank is too many. Maybe 8-10 adults , and the pleco.
2007-04-04 14:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a plec will only eat a baby guppy a) if the baby is dead, or b) if it is eating detritus of the same piece of algae the plec is munching on, which is pretty unlikely. You probably have some some losses anyway, that's the way of things. Good luck with all those guppies!
2007-04-04 11:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by covduo2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baby guppies are mere food to most fish wish a mouth big enough to eat them. However, I believe that if your pleco eats one of them it will be simply by mistake. Mistaken identity. I have never seen my pleco eat any of my baby fish, but it is possible if they are newborns.
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2007-04-04 11:24:24 · answer #5 · answered by wyldorchiyds 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to have one and they are very kind fish. They only eat algae, and algae wafers.
2007-04-04 11:22:58 · answer #6 · answered by goddess 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes!!! a plecostamus will eat baby fish, dead fish, big fish, small fish... any fish that will hold still long enough for it to get ahold.
2007-04-04 11:28:18 · answer #7 · answered by gearhead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably not, they really stick to alge, small chance if there is no alge for him to eat.
2007-04-04 11:19:09 · answer #8 · answered by wigglesmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋