Pleco and algae wafers?

Question

I have a common pleco who is about 3 in long. It will not eat! I have tried every veggie under the sun and algae wafers. All which are ignored except by my apple snail. I don't know what else to do... I know they are nocturnal but it never seems to be off of the glass!

Answer 1

One thing that most "pet stores" won't tell you(cause they just don't know) is that most Plecos like to gnaw on drift wood. It seems to be a necessary part of their diet. My Blue-eyed Panaque has reduced a two foot long piece of driftwood to a mere toothpick over the last 20 or so years. Try getting your little buddy a piece of driftwood (the kind that sinks by itself is best),and see if his favorite spot in the tank doesn't shift to the wood. Also add the algae wafers at lights out time,it seems that most of the Ancistrus species like to do most of their activity in the dark. If you want to watch your nocturnal fishes there are red night lights that fish can't see that allow you to watch them do their night stuff.
P.S.,don't give up on the veggies.

Answer 2

Pleco's actually live off of the algae in an aquariam- such as that on the glass. Sometimes there isn't enough of it for you to see, but it's still there. He may not be eating the algae wafers or veggies because he's getting plenty of that. If you're still concerned, but the tank by an open window- sunlight will make the natural algae grow faster. However, it may make it grow too fast and the tank will get icky faster, so perhaps only leave the curtain open a few hours a day.

Answer 3

As long as the pleco is moving around and breathing normally I wouldn't worry about it. There is probably enough algae on the glass to keep it happy. That's why it isn't interested in other foods.

Answer 4

as your plec gets a bit older try introducing shrimp pellets for bottom feeders. my plec loves them and goes crazy everytime i drop one in the water. Everyone who's written is on the right track about your pleco though. he's probably eating a little bit when your sleeping and he's probably getting his fill all day on the algae that's growing on the glass. ( side note: My plec also LOVES his driftwood and spends most of the day underneath it where it's darker for him. He actually takes all his food under the wood to eat.)

Answer 5

Actually, i'm 100% sure that he's eating
Plecos are night active, that might be the main reason you don't see him eating
What i do with my bottomfeeders, is feeding them 5 min before the light turns off at night
Feed him then, and watch him when the tank lights are off, you will see he's eating




Hope that helps
Good luck



EB