what to feed giant plecos

What should I feed my pleco?

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How often should plecos be fed?

One to two times per weekWhile Plecos do eat detritus and algae, it will still need its diet supplemented. Feed your Pleco every day or every other day with Pleco-specific food. One to two times per week, feed your Pleco pieces of cucumber, zucchini, or lettuce (not iceberg).

Do plecos need vegetables?

Vegetables. Plecos can eat vegetables. Romaine lettuce, the tops of celery and other leafy vegetables provide a good plant food source. Slices of cucumber, parboiled zucchini and parboiled peas are welcome in the pleco's diet.

How many wafers do I feed my pleco?

Offer at least one algae wafer per day. 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.

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.

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 I feed cucumber to my pleco?

0:295:42#414: How to Sink Raw Cucumbers for Plecos - Tank Tip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd they've come up with this really ingenious little tool to help you feed raw vegetables to yourMoreAnd they've come up with this really ingenious little tool to help you feed raw vegetables to your plecos.

Can plecos eat bananas?

3:0310:51Pleco Vs. Banana - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut my plecos do not like bananas guys yeah they just get on it. And then they get off of it. BeenMoreBut my plecos do not like bananas guys yeah they just get on it. And then they get off of it. Been in here an hour they've ate through the you know the outer edge of it too.

How long can a pleco go without eating?

Bristlenose plecos can go 14 days without food. These bottom-dwelling fish are very hardy and can survive quite long without eating anything.

How do I know if my pleco is healthy?

A healthy pleco should have a nice rounded belly. A pleco with a hollow looking stomach is sick or starving! Myth #3: "Plecos will only grow as large as your tank lets them. A 10 gallon is just fine."

How often should you feed an algae eater?

Your algae eater should be fed daily – the amount depends on the type of food you're offering. Generally, most brands recommend that you feed twice a day the amount of food your fish can eat in 2 hours, but to be sure, check the recommendations by the manufacturer and stick to that.

How do I know if my pleco is dying?

Symptoms of a Pleco dying include loss of appetite, lethargy, and open mouth breathing. To prevent your Pleco from dying, you can change the water regularly, ensure proper feeding habits, use a quarantine tank before introducing new additions to the tank, and regularly test the water.

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 are the requirements for a large pleco?

Large Pleco Systems. There are three main requirements for large pleco systems: They must be big, well-filtered, and established. They are or become very large animals in short time with good care, and are amazingly messy in their food, waste, and burrowing habits.

Where can I find Plecos?

Plecos and kin can be found in Central America (Costa Rica, Panama on down) and throughout South America in nearly every body of fresh water . There are no marine or brackish species; so no, they don’t like salt in their water.

How big is a leopard pleco?

The leopard pleco (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps, Kner 1854), formerly Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, reaches about 20 inches maximum. There are a few other species that make their way into the trade, like P. multiradiatus, the Orinoco sailfin plec, and P. scrophus, one of the plecs called “rhino,” though these are rare.

What is the name of the snow king pleco?

Genus Pterygoplichthys. Two species of rather larger "plecostomus" are bred and reared in large quantities for the aquarium trade, using pond techniques perfected at farms in Florida. Liposarcus anisitsi (Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903) is the snow king pleco (formerly of the genus Pterygoplichthys) and grows to 17 inches in length ...

Where do plecos live?

Some plecos live at elevations of more than 3,000 meters (more than 9,800 feet), moving up steep rocks and waterfalls by shifting their bodies and mouths. There are some 800 described species with speculations that there may be 1,200 to 1,500 total. Plecos and kin can be found in Central America (Costa Rica, Panama on down) and throughout South America in nearly every body of fresh water. There are no marine or brackish species; so no, they don’t like salt in their water.

What plants are good for lights out?

Plant materials that have been employed to good use include types of eggplant, squash, sweet potato, and carrots.

Can a Pleco live in a tank?

Plecos are the go-to algae eaters for many hobbyists, but some species require huge setups to thrive. An expert hobbyist discusses these large catfish and provides excellent care advice so they can live in your tank for years to come.

What is the best food for carnivores?

Carnivores. White fish, mussels, shrimps/prawns, cockles. These types of foods should be cooked before feeding to remove undesirables and most are available pre-cooked and are easy to use. For instance mussels are also available tinned, which makes it an ideal food because it's easily available.

What do fish eat?

Other commonly used food is Sweet Potatoes or Yams, split peas and sugar-snap/mange-tout are also excellent foods. The fish love broccoli, and although popular, cabbage varieties can make the water smell like of cabbage, which is a drawback. Kale especially is good for this group and also in feeding their young.

How to grow algae in a fish tank?

Place a tank with a couple of goldfish, guppies or similar under a bright light or in a sunny position, and put a few fist-sized stones or small pieces of driftwood in the tank . As the goldfish fertilizes the water, the algae will grow nicely on all surfaces.

What do squid eat?

They are available in all sizes from a few centimetres to well over half a metre. They eat everything from algae to meat and some even use wood as a food-source. In the next article, it's explained what groups eat what type of food so you can work out what each genus will want.

What are some examples of fish eating oranges?

There are examples of fish eating orange, but vegetables in the Cucumber family, such as Courgette (Zucchini to the American audience), common cucumber and various types of melon are all excellent foods. Other commonly used food is Sweet Potatoes or Yams, split peas and sugar-snap/mange-tout are also excellent foods.

Can plecos live in a tank?

Once the stones/wood are covered with algae, they can be moved to the tank where the plecos live. Similarly, for fish that eat snails, you can cultivate snails in a tank, they aren't hard to breed, and you can feed them many different sorts of vegetable matter. Home-made food.

Can pleco digest wood?

There are a few types of pleco that can digest wood. Contrary to previously popular belief, the fish do not have "good bacteria" in the gut that breaks down the wood, but instead scrape off wood that is in the process of being broken down, and extracts nutrients from the microorganisms that are breaking down the wood.

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.

What to feed plec?

A varied diet of veg+fruit is needed so that nutritional needs are fulfilled. Don't forget to include algae wafers, meat, and wood depending on species of plec.

What vegetables are good for plecs?

If you put in anything that contains the skin or rind be sure to scrub it first to get rid of any pesticides. this is a list of vegetables and fruit that are popular with most plecs. (Thank you to everyone on PF who voted in the veggie poll and all the input) Zucchini/Courgette. Cucumber.