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what to feed red bristlenose pleco

by Gavin Jacobson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Zucchini, Cucumber, Broccoli, Peas, Spinach and Romaine Lettuce are just a few examples of the foods that Bristlenose Plecos love to feed on. However, as always, make sure you remove any leftover vegetables from the tank within a day of feeding them, as to prevent them from fouling the water in your tank.

Feed the Super Red Bristlenose Pleco a diet heavy in vegetable matter, including high-quality vegetable flakes, sinking algae wafers and pellets. It will also appreciate being fed some fresh vegetables such as shelled peas, spinach, zucchini and cucumber.

Full Answer

What is the best food for pleco?

The food items I list right below, are all perfect for Plecos:

  • Algae wafers
  • Driftwood – very important for all types of Plecos. This is a naturally encountered food source, so make sure they have plenty of it in the tank.
  • Earthworms
  • Bloodworms
  • Shrimp
  • Vegetables

How often should I Feed my pleco?

Types Of Pleco Food

  • Algae And Sinking Algae Wafers. As we have already mentioned, algae and algae wafers are the primary constituents of a pleco’s diet.
  • High-Fiber Foods (Vegetables) You can either blanch the vegetables or feed them raw, but make sure that they are washed thoroughly and cut into small pieces.
  • Driftwood. ...
  • Higher-Protein Foods. ...

What should I Feed my pleco?

Vegetable List For Feeding Plecos

  • IMPORTANT. Make sure you have an ID of your plec to ensure the correct dietary needs are met. ...
  • STARTER LIST. This is a list of vegetables and fruit that are popular with most plecs.
  • OTHER VEGETABLES AND FRUIT. ...
  • SUGGESTIONS FOR WEIGHING DOWN VEG. ...

Would pleco Eat my fishes?

A Pleco fish may be in a bad environment if they exhibit any of these signs:

  • They spend most of their time buried or lying on the bottom of the tank.
  • They stop eating and become thinner.
  • They start behaving abnormally.
  • If there is a problem with ammonia levels in the water, they will start to show white spots and lesions on their body and fins.

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What should I feed my Bristlenose pleco?

Bristlenose Plecos are herbivores, eating mainly algae, so feeding algae or spirulina wafers once or twice daily is best. Granules, flakes, or bloodworms are also good, while the occasional zucchini slices and blanched romaine lettuce or spinach are good treats. Just make sure to never overfeed.

Do I need to feed my Bristlenose pleco?

How Often Should I Feed my Bristlenose Pleco? Algae wafers can be fed to your fish every other day. In between replacing your wafers, it is wise to provide your Bristlenose with a constantly supply of a nutritious fresh vegetable, like zucchini.

What vegetables can I feed my Bristlenose pleco?

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.

Will Bristlenose pleco eat fish food?

Is it okay for my Pleco to eat fish flake food? It's fine, but it would be best if they also ate some algae, raw vegetables, and meat once in a while.

What is the best food for plecos?

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.

How often feed pleco veggies?

While 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).

What fruit can Bristlenose pleco eat?

So far they have liked zucchini, blanched spinach and cucumber. They did not like the apple, banana, or honeydew melon that I put in there. Last night I put a piece of papaya in the tank and was amazed this morning to find it eaten all the way down to the peel.

Can I feed my pleco cucumbers?

0:255:42#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.

Can plecos eat raw broccoli?

Broccoli seems to be a vegetable almost all plecos like. Especially the common pleco like eating the florets of this vegetable. You can either choose to boil your broccoli or feed it raw.

Will plecos eat fish poop?

No, plecos won't eat fish poop. Despite being a popular cleaner fish, plecos don't eat poop because fish poop is already processed and contains very few nutrients. Additionally, you can't even rely on plecos to keep your tank clean because they are big fish and produce a lot of waste themselves.

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 often do you feed a 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.

How often should you 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 plecos always eat?

The Bristlenose Plecos have a decent digestive capacity and don't need food regulation like betta or goldfish. They will eat continuously, all the time, and as long as you don't see any illness signs, everything will work fine.

How long does it take for a Bristlenose pleco to grow to full size?

It only takes about 6 months to reach full maturity. When they're still young, they will develop their tough skin. They won't have those iconic bristles at first. But, they'll start to develop after several months.

Will Bristlenose plecos eat hair algae?

A Bristlenose plecostomus will spend its time as every other plecostomus: they will glue themselves on the glass, scavenge the aquarium for algae and happily hang out on driftwood.

How big of a tank do you need for a bristlenose pleco?

If you plan on purchasing your own Bristlenose Plecos, you need to make sure that they have at least a 25 gallon tank to roam around. Make sure that you adjust your tank size accordingly if you decide to keep them with other fish (more on that below).

Where do bristlenose plecos come from?

Originally, Bristlenose Plecos come from the streams and tributaries in the Amazon Basin. Though, they can also be found throughout other parts of Central and South America as well. These freshwater fish were first classified in the 1800s. Since then, they have become popular with aquarists all over the world.

What is the difference between a pleco and a bristlenose?

When compared to other Plecos, the fish have somewhat elongated lips as well. Another difference between the Bristlenose and other Plecos is that the head is wider. It’s also shorter and a bit plumper. Another neat thing about this species is that their bodies are covered in bony plates.

How long do bristlenose pleco live?

Bristlenose Pleco Lifespan. The average Bristlenose Pleco lifespan is at least five years, but there have been instances where this fish has lived up to 12 years in captivity! When compared to a lot of the other popular freshwater tank inhabitants, this is a pretty solid length of time.

What is a bristlenose catfish?

Bristlenose Plecos (sometimes called the Bushy Nose Pleco or Bristlenose Catfish) are incredibly unique and fun creatures that are quite popular in freshwater tanks. They’re also rather polarizing. Some aquarists think that they look fun and unique (like us), while others think they look odd and creepy. If you’re in the first group then this guide ...

Why do plecos have protection?

Bristlenose Plecos do have protection all over their bodies to prevent injury from small aggressive fish. But, it’s best to just keep things as peaceful as possible. Pairing them with aggressive fish that constantly attacks them will only lead to stress-related health issues.

What color are plecos?

You’ll find fish that are black, dark brown, gray, and olive. Accompanying that base color is a series of lighter dots all over. They are usually white or yellow. The belly of Bristlenose Plecos is slightly lighter colored.

How long do plecos live?

Bristlenose plecos can live for up to 12 years which is considerably longer than most freshwater aquarium fish species. This lifespan is mostly because the fish is quite hardy hence can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. Also, they breed easily in captivity and are compatible with most freshwater fish.

How big is a pleco fish?

This pleco is preferred to others in the family (which includes common pleco)because of it’s smaller size (usually top out at around 5 inches) and ease of maintenance. The fish are also efficient algae eaters, and males have fleshy tentacles on the head which create a unique spectacle in home aquariums.

How long do bristlenose fish live?

However, individual bristlenose fish tend to live for a short period in captivity, sometimes for only 3 to 5 year, because of poor fish keeping techniques.

What temperature do bristlenose fish live in?

Still, the fish will be most active when the temperature is higher, so maintain them in the range between 68& deg; F and 80& deg; F. Because bristlenose fish are native to rivers, they also prefer well-aerated water and having a moderate flow.

What color is a bristlenose?

This is one of the most popular bristlenose color types and is easily distinguishable by its highly variable white-pink to yellow marbled body, as well as the growth of many appendages on the fish’s face. Both sexes grow appendages, but the growth and length are much more pronounced in males.

What fish species are in an aquarium?

You’ll find hacks and insight on common aquarium fish species such as betta, cichlids, tetras, guppies, danios, barbs, gouramis, goldfish, mollies, platies, killifish and more .

Where do bushnose catfish spend most of their time?

That said, your bushnose catfish will spend most of their time at the bottom hiding out and grazing on algae growing on all surfaces. So, it is important to consider the amount of algae available in your fish tank to make sure you don’t offer them excess food.

What do plecos eat?

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. Don’t forget – Bristlenose plecos are bottom-feeding fish.

What is a bristlenose pleco?

Bristlenose Plecos are hardy fish meaning they can tolerate a broader range of water parameters. With that being said, our goal is to replicate the natural environment of the fish we are keeping and keep it as consistent as possible.

How long does it take for a bristlenose pleco to hatch?

The females will enter the ‘cave’ with the male, and will deposit the eggs to the upper surface of it. The eggs will hatch around 10 days later.

How big of a tank do you need for a bristlenose pleco?

They can reach up to 6 inches in length relatively quickly, so it’s recommended that you keep them in a tank size of at least 30 Gallons. Remember that this is just a minimum recommendation.

What is the most popular species of Pleco fish?

Written by Logan Price in Freshwater Fish Last Updated 23rd June 2021. The Bristlenose Pleco. One of the most popular species of Pleco fish you will find in home aquariums all over the globe. Also known as the Bushy nose Pleco, these easy to care for tropical freshwater fish are perfect for beginner aquarists, and advanced aquarists alike.

What is the best pellet for all rounder?

A plant-based sinking pellet would be the best choice for an ‘all-rounder’. The one that I use and recommend is the Tetra Pro Pleco Wafers. They are nutritionally adequate, they sink quickly and they don’t murky up the water like a flake food tends to if left uneaten.

Do bristlenose plecos need oxygen?

Bristlenose Plecos live in fast-flowing rivers with a high current and a fast turnover of water. This means that good filtration and oxygenation are crucial for them to live a healthy life in your aquarium. High-powered filters with an oxygen intake hose will work wonders.

What is the best food for plecos?

Since yours is pretty big, I would have something for him to snack on in the tank all the time. Spinach is great for plecos. It has fiber, and tons of great nutrients.

What to feed plecos in tank?

Since yours is pretty big, I would have something for him to snack on in the tank all the time. Spinach is great for plecos. It has fiber, and tons of great nutrients. Keep a leaf of it on a veggie clip in the tank the majority of the time I would say. Zucchini is good too.

How often do plecos get algae wafers?

They get algae wafers every couple of days. A lot of plecos are very underfed, If you don't get much algae they should have access to vegetables frequently.

How many algae pellets should I feed my Pleco?

I feed mine one algae pellet/tablet per day. At the weekends I feed him a slice of cucumber as well. Don't forget that your Pleco will like to munch on algae on the walls of the tank.

What do plecos eat?

This may seem a little complicated, but it will give your pleco a nicely balanced diet. They need a diet high in fiber from fruits and veggies, and won't do as well if you only feed them algae pellets.

How long to wait to put in algae pellet?

I would recommend putting in a 1/4 of an algae pellet, waiting 2 days, putting in a slice of blanched cucumber, waiting 2 days, putting in a piece of blanched spinach, waiting to days, and then starting again with the algae pellet.

laritheloud

So I've been offering my new red bristlenose an algae wafer (or a piece of one) from Northfin -- the Kelp wafers. I'm trying to offer veggie-heavy foods since I know Bristlenose favor algae and veg in their diets. NOW I've only had him for a few days, and I know he could totally still be settling. So far he hasn't touched the wafers I've offered.

Beardedbillygoat1975

Well the highest nutrition he can get is in that biofilm. They may not have raised him on the wafers so he may not know what they are. With the baby plecos it took several weeks for them to find the Repashy and the wafers so I’d give it more time.

laritheloud

Well the highest nutrition he can get is in that biofilm. They may not have raised him on the wafers so he may not know what they are. With the baby plecos it took several weeks for them to find the Repashy and the wafers so I’d give it more time.

Guppysnail

After a quarter bag of these going untouched by mom dad and three batches of fry snails and shrimp I threw the bag away. My little ones liked the omega one veggie rounds. They are the only wafer mine really liked and would consistently eat along with hikari sinking wafer in the orange bag. Bug bites pleco formula they ate after awhile.

Beardedbillygoat1975

At this age it’s all about eating and feeling safe so that makes sense - he’s living next to the cafeteria which has his favorite food. I see mine often because of the shear numbers - 2 males and 5 females I’m bound to see one every time I look.

laritheloud

After a quarter bag of these going untouched by mom dad and three batches of fry snails and shrimp I threw the bag away. My little ones liked the omega one veggie rounds. They are the only wafer mine really liked and would consistently eat along with hikari sinking wafer in the orange bag. Bug bites pleco formula they ate after awhile.

lefty o

BN typically arent overly picky eaters. mine go banana's for wardley's (this is the only food from this brand id use, the rest is not very good) shrimp pellets meant for corydora's, and they are the one fish i have that likes repashy community.

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