I just bought him about 3 days ago and he's still a cute little baby so I put him in a 5 gallon tank with 2 guppies, 2 tiger barbs, and a friendly female Platy. The fish don't seem bothered with the new arrival, and they get along pretty well (except the female guppy, she nips his tail a little sometimes but he doesn't care he just moves and she quickly swims away). When it's feeding time (11:30am and 9:00pm) all the other fish eat their flakes but the algae eater doesn't eat them. All he ate in the last 3 days was one small flake which he found at the bottom of the tank and the algae and plants and I'm getting concerned because he's not eating. So what do I feed him if he won't eat the flakes? Please help, I want him to have a happy life and a balanced diet.
2007-07-21 05:16:31 · 9 answers · asked by Kagomey 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
there is a very simple answer to it!!
Yes he does eat, but you won't see him eating, because algae eaters are night active, that's the time they get very active and start searching for their food
You don't have to worry about that a bit
I usually feed my bottom feeders every couple of days, since they also eat the waste that is on the gravel
But also don't forget that you're suppose to turn the light off for 12-14 hours at night and turn it on for 10-12 hours during the day
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
2007-07-21 10:09:04 · answer #1 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not sure where to start on this. So lets be methodical.
A) Fish isnt eating flake food at feeding time.
- Flake food is not what he is going to eat. A Standard Algae eater is not a deteritous eater. They will eat algae that grows on the walls and stones in the tank, or waffers you put in. However! Any new arrivals may not eat for a few days as they aclimante to their new surroundings.
B) tank is over stocked. SEVERLY.
-even if you had only the pleco in there, it would still be over stocked. This fish will grow to be 18 inches+ long. Should not be kept in a 5 gallon tank for any lengh of time. Stress from being over crowded may keep him from eating. Also since the tank is over stocked, the dissolved oxygen content of the tank my be low. Plecos require twice the oxygen in their water than that of most standard swimming fish.
C) Nipping is bad.
- this also causes "stress" for your new arrival which may put him off his eating game. Any nipping can be signs of aggression which may stress out your fish.
What do I recommend? If you dont have a bigger tank to put your pleco into (at least 30gals), return him to the store where you got him. Be the compassionate person that whats your fish to have a decent life. Think of it this way...would you want to live in a 5"x5" room with six other people for the rest of your shortened life? See if you can trade the pleco for a snail or two. Snails eat almost anything, and can live in almost anything.
2007-07-21 05:48:33 · answer #2 · answered by jjthefishman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The previous poster is right, a 5 gallon tank is not acceptable for algae eaters - they all grow too big. The only possible one you can have is an Oto catfish, since they are not only small, but more importantly - stay small! For that matter, tiger barbs are too feistyfor this tank too and grow bigger then you think, and as they grow you will run into problems with them. The smaller the tank, the more important it is to make sure the fish are suitable for it.
As for pleco's, they eat algae tablets, and you can clip in fresh veggies like zucchini, cucumber, leafy lettuce, or spinach. I always clip in veggies after lights-out, so they can eat in peace and at an hour natural to them, and then remove what's left in the morning.
2007-07-21 08:18:50 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of algae eaters can be nocturnal as well, you it may be eating but after lights out. My cory catfish doesn't go after the flakes at feeding time, but nose around the bottom all day looking for dropped food. You can also get algae wafers that sink to the bottom, that will get munched on by everyone. Depending on the algae eater you have, some even like sinking shrimp pellets, but those can get messy.
I have found at fish also like veggies. Peeled & steamed cucumbers or zucchini or peeled peas are really good food for them, don't leave them in for longer than 12 hours or they will get nasty looking.
2007-07-21 05:26:23 · answer #4 · answered by vannilla26 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While I agree with the other posters they may not realize its food. Don't take it out after a day!!! Give them more time than a day. Many pleco prefer their food very soft. My rubber lipped pleco often waits till the next day to chow down. Also be sure to try thinner slices. I find this works best with hard food like broccoli stems, and carrots. (I'm not sure my rubber lipped pleco eats the carrots, as I've also got a clown pleco in the tank.)
2016-05-19 03:24:06 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
algae eaters are mainly bottom feeders . i feed mine algae wafers u can get other foods for bottom feeders..at the pet stores . they like to eat late in the evening . don't worry just get some algae discs.
2007-07-21 08:53:28 · answer #6 · answered by pat c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algae eaters will not eat flakes, They eat algae that is in the tank, and algae disks/wafers that you buy. And guppies and tiger barbs? i thought tiger barbs were extermley nippy
2007-07-21 05:25:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
well check for any illnesses first that might the reason why hes not eating and you shouldnt be concerned if you see him eating take in mind he does eat algea and left over foods that your other fish dont eat
2007-07-21 05:21:22 · answer #8 · answered by hopeless_romantic33z 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know....
2007-07-21 05:43:50 · answer #9 · answered by . 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋