Here are some great foods your plecostomus will love:
- Algae wafers or tablets
- Sinking pellets
- Earthworms
- Brine shrimps
- Frozen bloodworms
- Cut-up vegetables, such as zucchini, lettuce, and kale
Full Answer
What do I Feed my plecostomus?
Make sure to feed your pleco meals that are specifically intended for it or vegetables and fruits that sink to the bottom of the tank. What Do I Feed My Plecostomus? Your plecostomus loves to eat.
What do plecos eat in the wild?
Plecos are omnivores, so you can also feed them meat, like shrimp and bloodworms, as well as vegetables including zucchini and kale. Keep driftwood in the tank at all times. Your pleco needs lots of fiber in their diet, and they can get it from driftwood.
How do I Feed my pleco algae wafers?
Feed your pleco algae wafers. To ensure your pleco has enough algae in its diet, you should supplement the algae in the tank with algae wafers. These wafers sink to the bottom of the tank so that your pleco can find them easily. Algae wafers can be found at your local pet shop or aquarium store.
How do you take care of a pleco?
Plecos require plenty of fiber. Supplement with raw zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, lettuce, spinach or cucumbers as a treat once or twice a week. Raw vegetables should be anchored near the bottom of the aquarium
What is the best food to feed a pleco?
A well-balanced pleco diet consists of: Algae and sinking algae wafers. Plecos require plenty of fiber. Supplement with raw zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, lettuce, spinach or cucumbers as a treat once or twice a week.
Do I need to feed pleco fish?
Plecos are a great addition to your aquarium to help keep it algae-free. The pleco, or plecostomus, is a type of catfish often housed in aquariums. Plecos are algae-eaters, but your home aquarium won't provide enough algae to keep your pleco full. You'll need to feed plecos algae wafers too.
What can a pleco eat?
In the wild, some are carnivorous scavengers that feed off of dead fish that they find. Others eat mostly wood fiber and little crustaceans that live on the surface of sunken logs. There really isn't a one and done diet that's a good fit for all plecos.
What can I feed my Bristlenose?
Bristlenose Plecos are predominantly herbivores. At least 75% of their diet should be a plant-based food such as algae wafers. Vegetables such as zucchini, cabbage, and cucumber can be fed occasionally as a treat.
Can I feed cucumber to my pleco?
0:215:42#414: How to Sink Raw Cucumbers for Plecos - Tank Tip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is a product by opti fish they're out of the UK. And they've come up with this really ingeniousMoreThis is a product by opti fish they're out of the UK. And they've come up with this really ingenious little tool to help you feed raw vegetables to your plecos.
Does my pleco need driftwood?
Plecos are known to feed on driftwood in minimal amounts. Driftwood consists of nutrients that help in the digestion process of Plecos. However, where driftwood can certainly help in enhancing the health of a Pleco, it is not really a need or necessity.
When should I feed my pleco?
Because Plecos are nocturnal, the best time to feed them is just before you turn the light off at night. This is the best way to avoid other fish-eating the Pleco's food. While Plecos do eat detritus and algae, it will still need its diet supplemented.
How do I keep my plecos happy?
8:1112:51One Of The Most Mistreated Fish In The Hobby. Top 10 ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo use some common sense they generally won't hunt other fish. But if they get large enough and theyMoreSo use some common sense they generally won't hunt other fish. But if they get large enough and they're smaller fish in the tank. And they have the opportunity.
Can pleco eat fish food?
Omnivorous plecos offer the most dietary options because they can eat just about anything that other omnivorous fish would eat. Fish food, algae wafers, carnivore pellets, thawed frozen foods, insects, and shrimp can all be on the menu for omnivorous plecos.
Do Bristlenose plecos eat carrots?
Veggies. Bristlenose plecos can also benefit from supplemental feedings of vegetables. Grocery store veggies like spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, peas, carrots and green beans are suitable pleco foods. Some of them, like zucchini and carrots, work better when blanched first.
How often should I feed Bristlenose pleco?
Feed the fish twice per day, providing enough food for them to eat within two minutes. Remove uneaten food to keep the tank clean and to prevent overfeeding.
Do Bristlenose plecos eat driftwood?
Bristlenose plecos aren't picky about what type of wood you provide for them. However, they usually prefer softer woods, such as Malaysian driftwood, grape wood, and cholla wood.
What do plecos need in a tank?
Plecostomus Water Requirements A pH between 7.0 and 8.0, alkalinity between 3° and 10° dKH (54 ppm to 180 ppm) and temperature between 74° and 80° F will suffice for most captive bred species. If the aquarium is kept in a room below 74°, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain the proper temperature.
How do you keep plecos alive?
Give them shelter. Plecostomus like to hide and burrow, especially during the day when they sleep. Keep rocks, driftwood and bogwood, which is preserved wood similar to driftwood. Using soft substrates such as sand instead of gravel also gives them a hiding space to burrow down into.
How do I keep my plecos happy?
8:1112:51One Of The Most Mistreated Fish In The Hobby. Top 10 ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo use some common sense they generally won't hunt other fish. But if they get large enough and theyMoreSo use some common sense they generally won't hunt other fish. But if they get large enough and they're smaller fish in the tank. And they have the opportunity.
How long does it take for a pleco to reach full size?
It takes about five years for a common pleco to grow to its full size. A common pleco typically grows 3-5 inches in its first year. After that, its growth rate will slow down until it attains its full size of 20-25 inches.
What do plecos eat?
In general, plecos are opportunistic scavengers who will eat anything that comes their way. Some species of pleco exclusively eat algae, while othe...
How long do plecos live?
A pleco’s life span depends on the species; on average, up to 10-15 years when properly cared for.
How big do plecos get?
Plecos can be as small as 1.5 inches long or up to 12+ inches long, depending on species.
How fast do plecos grow?
Plecos grow very quickly, some up to 5 inches during their first year.
Can a plecostomus live in a pond?
Larger species of plecostomus can live in ponds, eating algae, as long as the temperature doesn’t drop too low, and the pond doesn’t freeze.
When Do I Feed My Pleco?
A plecostomus is primarily noctunral and prefers to graze at night. You may find your pleco laying motionless or resting for much of the day. Train your pleco to eat at night because it’s when they are most comfortable and active. This is when they will need the extra nutrition.
What Do I Feed My Plecostomus?
Your plecostomus loves to eat. Most plecos grow quite large at over 12-15 inches. Some are able to grow up to 24 inches. They will not get enough nutrients from algae and detritus in your tank. Discs, rounds and wafers intended for plecos are easy to buy from your local fish shop, but they are not enough as well.
How Do I Know If My Pleco Is Overeating?
Do you keep driftwood in the tank? Do you know that your pleco will ingest bits of driftwood by grazing their sandpaper-like teeth over it for additional fiber? They may also nibble on plants and definitely continue looking out for algae. Your nightly meals may get to be heavy.
How Many Wafers Should I Feed My Plecostomus?
Pleco-specific food usually arrives in the form of sinking rounds, discs or wafers. If you are dropping algae wafers, two will be enough. If you have a current, air pump, powerhead or strong filter, you should clip the food to the glass attached to a suction cup.
Which Fruits Do Plecos Eat?
It’s fun to experiment with your plecostomus. They are hardy eaters and will try almost anything you are offering at the same time and place each night. If there isn’t competition for it, your pleco will eat in peace and comfort.
How Much Do I Feed A Pleco?
You can feed your pleco 2 wafers or discs a night. If you see that they have been consumed it and there are no other food sources, you could choose to drop another wafer in the morning.
Which Food Is Best For A Pleco?
The food you prepare will always be the best. You take the time to cut, clean, boil or blanch the food and they are single source ingredients. The cheaper blends contain fillers and preservatives.
How often should I feed plecostomus?
Plecostomus fish really only need to be fed once a day. They love to eat at night and rarely like to be seen during the day. Drop the food into the tank before bedtime and your plecostomus will be happy.
How to tell if a plecostomus fish is overeating?
If they are overeating, when they use the bathroom, their feces will come out as a thin black stream that stays attached to their bodies. Advertisement.
How big can a plecostomus grow?
A plecostomus can grow to reach more than 14 inches in length. You have filled your tank with some of the most beautiful fish you could find. Your final addition is a Plecostomus. After a few short weeks, you notice your Plec (for short) is dirtying the tank with his droppings. You are overfeeding your Plecostomus.
How to get a pleco to eat?
1. Keep driftwood in the tank at all times. Your pleco needs lots of fiber in their diet, and they can get it from driftwood. Make sure to provide several pieces of driftwood in the aquarium at all times so your pleco can suck and scrape it off. The tiny pieces of driftwood the pleco eats help with its digestion.
How often should I feed plecos?
Feed your pleco fruit or vegetables once or twice per week. Fruit and veggies will provide your pleco with fiber, which they need to stay healthy. Offer your pleco fruit or vegetables once or twice per week.
How big of an aquarium do plecos need?
Provide them with plenty of room. In the aquarium, plecos can grow up to 18 inches (46 cm) long! This means you’ll need an aquarium larger than 100 gallons (380 L). You can choose a smaller species of pleco, like the Golden nugget, Zebra, Clown, or Bristlenose pleco, if you have a tank smaller than 100 gallons (380 L).
What is a pleco catfish?
The pleco, or plecostomus, is a type of catfish often housed in aquariums. Plecos are algae-eaters, but your home aquarium won’t provide enough algae to keep your pleco full. You’ll need to feed plecos algae wafers too.
How to know if a pleco is hungry?
Observe your pleco after feeding. After you provide food for your pleco, watch and see if your pleco gobbles it down. If your pleco immediately begins to munch on the food, they may be overly hungry and need to be fed more often. If your pleco ignores the food, they may need to be fed less often.
When to give pleco algae wafer?
Give your pleco an algae wafer at night before you go to bed, as plecos are nocturnal and eat at nighttime. If the wafer has been completely consumed by the time you wake up, you can offer another algae wafer to your pleco in the morning. ...
Can plecos eat algae?
If you have a small juvenile pleco, they may be able to get by on the algae in the tank, algae wafers, and scraps left over from feeding other fish. However, if the pleco is the only fish in the tank, it will need to be fed more often.
What is the best diet for a Pleco aquarium?
Diet. A well-balanced Pleco diet consists of: Algae and sinking algae wafers. Supplement with raw zucchini or cucumbers as a treat once or twice a week. Raw vegetables should be anchored near the bottom of the aquarium .
Where did the Plecos originate?
Plecostomus. Plecos are well-known algae eaters that originated in the rivers of the Amazon jungle in South America. Plecos attach themselves to hard surfaces with specially adapted mouth parts. They are scavengers and will eat almost anything.