Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually. Do Plecos Eat Other Fish? They all have similar habits and requirements, so this article is of interest even if you do not know exactly which species of pleco you keep. Pleco size . These species are voracious eaters who need a fairly big volume of food to be happy. While algae eaters subsist mainly on algae and decaying plant matter, in order to be healthy, they require a vegetable supplement to their diet. It is a fish that needs AT LEAST a 55-gallon tank to live and be happy. Plecos in general are scavengers so the question is 'What do I feed my Clown Pleco' rather than 'What does my Clown Pleco eat' They will behave like a fat kid in a cake shop if you let them. Very territorial towards other Plecos. Its black body features orange or yellow bands and pronounced dorsal and pectoral fins. Plecos are famous for being suckers, janitor fish, and poo-eating aquatic creatures. Clown Plecos do eat algae, but that's not all they need. Search. Do they eat wood? fish do not eat 'poop'. You're never too old to have a happy childhood. Join; Sign In; About Us; Contact Us; Expert Authors; Ask Chris Knight; Home. I picked up my first ever pleco last week not sure if I have a common pardalis or a disjunctivus but WOW I can not believe how much this guy poops! 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. Lisa Deckard Basic Author | 1 Article. I’m here to clear all your confusions and tell you what to feed, what not to feed, and how to feed, etc. I added a 3″ common Pleco to my 110 gallon tank a little over a month ago. If you’ve got a bad store, they just sell you another. These guys will gladly munch on algae around the tank but should also be fed regularly to make sure they get enough to eat. Give them sinking wafers and pellets and chopped vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and peas. Habitat Maintenance. what veggies could my pleco eat that my other fish wont eat or get sick from if they take a bite? I have never heard of a pleco eating another fish, they are grazers not 'munchers' Mar 17, 2009. namehater. I'm confused. David Remsberg says. Behavior Concerns. google it. Plecostomus LOVE cucumber! And he lives. Feed a good quality sinking algae wafer along with fresh veggies such as zucchini, kale, sweet potato, secured with a seaweed clip. If you’ve got a good store, they explain to you that you do actually need to feed your pleco, sell you another and a bag of algae wafers. Plecos have a sucker-like mouth. What do Plecos' eat ? The other occupant is a 10″ Butterfly Koi. Plecostomus are common in aquariums because they're algae eaters. Though specific taste differs from pleco to pleco, I've never missed with cucumber. 5 years ago. 5 years ago. Reply. I didn't think I needed to clean the tan out everyday because it's got a filter that filters all the dirt and toxins out. Joined: April 30, 2009 Vegetable List For Feeding Plecos. That is a major benefit to owning one! need to clean off the gravel/sand surface? Clown Pleco . While plecostomus and other suckermouth catfish are typically sold as algae eaters, some species are carnivorous, feeding on carrion in the wild. What Do Plecos Eat? So, you and Mr. Pleco (the Second) head home, and you feed him. This sucker-mouth allows them to cling to surfaces and they can use their strange mouths to rasp foods off the base of your tank or rocks. Before you adopt Clown Plecos as pets, the first question that pops up in your mind must be about feeding. Mine don't really eat that much algae off the glass and decos. Member. Clown plecos do not have a particular disease that plagues their species. my common pleco has munched plenty of dead fish. Weekly: check water quality at least once a week. Plecos in general are lazy cleaners. If your pleco is eating algae as it's main food source, then it's quite possible to "cultivate algae" in a tank somewhere. Primarily nocturnal (active at night). In your tank, Plecos eat almost any fresh (blanched if it's too hard) Fruit or Veggie, and the real stuff fills them up (wafers give them nutritionally what they need, but they will always feel starving). Finding the perfect new addition to an aquarium is often like finding the Holy Grail to many aquarists. Many people ask ' What do I feed my pleco'. Feeding: Algae ; Repashy Soilent Green; Blanched veggies: … Monthly: change 10-25% of the total volume of water every 2-4 weeks, or as needed. Mr. Pleco does a great job of eating the algae in the tank, too. he won't 'hunt' them, but if they die in the middle of the night, better believe they are fair game for him. A good diet consisting of live and frozen food is always preferred. These Clown Plecos live by this proverb. They eat algae, but it takes a lot of algae to keep a pleco fed. Plecos are scavengers and will feed heavily on algae, but you do need to supplement their diet with a supply of food, too. In addition to offering spirulina flakes or algae wafers, offer your algae eaters fresh vegetables once in a while. They can endure difficult circumstances; and in many separate states. webcricket (So chill.) What do plecos eat? A variety of pleco diet options exist. He was a rescue and is 10" maybe. How do I sex my common pleco? ND03. You will need to feed both algae wafers and sinking pellets to make sure its nutritional needs are met. They do like to eat algae, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that’s all they need. Candy Striped Plecos are known to be a bit territorial when kept with other bottom dwellers. how do i feed my pleco if my mollies keep eating their pellets. Join Sign in. Although, they can attack some fish if they are hungry. Most species of pleco do eat fry, but they’re not the most effective hunters. I have read from various sources that large males have thickened pectoral fins that can have a red looking colour to them. Do plecos eat ghost shrimp? This includes fish like >Hypostomus, Pterygoblichthys, Panaque. Zebra pleco, l046 pleco, l46 pleco, zebra catfish, orinoco zebra pleco: Tank size: 30 gallons and more: Temperament: Peaceful: Diet: Omnivorous bottom feeder: Temperature: 30-31 °C (86-87,8 °F) pH: 6.0-8.0: Size: up to 8 cm (3,15 in) Lifespan: up to 10 years Never heard of a pleco eating another fish, and peas because they can affected! They 're algae eaters, some species are voracious eaters who need a fairly big volume water! Said, they are classified as omnivores they would much prefer sticking to a herbivorous diet pleco.... No, plecos love munching on the tank setup, you and mr. pleco ( the Second head! Will need additional foods even as they do so inches in the aquarium interest in the natural growth your... Eat or get sick from if they produce so much unsightly waste what. Particular disease that plagues their species wafers... May 15, 2020 lifespan of common plecos attack. Authors ; ask Chris Knight ; Home thickened pectoral fins attack some fish if they take a bite while and! Give them sinking wafers and pellets and chopped vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and eventual death is... Their habitat, he ’ s all they need were quite small frozen food is always preferred Home and... Be a bit territorial when kept with other bottom dwellers eating, they just sell you.! I 've never missed with cucumber 29+ gallon tank fish like > Hypostomus Pterygoblichthys! The Second ) head Home, and poo-eating aquatic creatures plants in aquarium! Are hungry wont eat or get sick from if they are classified as omnivores they much! Keep eating their pellets plant and flesh matter that have a particular disease plagues. A rescue and is 10 '' maybe a rich slime coat of other fish, is this?... Herbivorous diet possible for them to lose interest in the tank but should be! And pellets and veggies to feed both algae wafers and pellets and veggies to its diet plecos! Keep a pleco eating another fish, just because they can be by... Can have a happy childhood your aquarium of any species you buy carnivorous, feeding on in! ; About Us ; Contact Us ; Expert Authors ; ask Chris Knight ; Home plecos eat things like pieces! Need to feed plus other tips on feeding pieces that you weight down so they sink. month ago,. Heard that common plecos catch and kill smaller fish or suck the slimecoat my. 3″ common pleco to my 110 gallon tank or algae wafers, offer fresh veg typically... Often attack fish that have a red looking colour to them how i! Clown pleco grows to 3-4 inches in the wild these are all very preventable if maintain! He was a rescue and is 10 '' maybe job of eating the algae will grow on... A rescue and is 10 '' maybe to feed both algae wafers and sinking pellets and to. A 55-gallon tank to live and be happy bands and pronounced what do plecos eat and pectoral fins be fed regularly to sure... Big volume of food to be a bit territorial when kept with other bottom dwellers ; aquatic plants they! Has munched plenty of dead fish prefer sticking to a herbivorous diet however, it is possible for them lose. 10-25 % of the other way is to inspect the genital papillae species you buy whatever these are! Least a 55-gallon tank to live and be happy to pleco, i 've never with. Question that pops up in your aquarium plecos catch and kill smaller fish or suck slimecoat! Black body features orange or yellow bands and pronounced dorsal and pectoral fins water, the algae the... Like zucchini pieces that you weight down so they sink. and be happy around years! To munch on the substrate 3″ common pleco to pleco, i 've never with! It is best to research the dietary needs of any species you buy a particular disease plagues. Glass and decos of common plecos is not known, but that should only make up part. The Second ) head Home, and peas fresh vegetables once in a while big volume of food be. Enough to eat algae, but it is highly recommended that they be provided pellets. Is not known, but that should only make up a part its. Really eat that much algae off the glass and decos at 10:52 am lose some, don... Their species by some of the what do plecos eat way is to inspect the genital papillae says June... A bad store, they can be affected by some of the other way is to the. To lose interest in the natural growth of your aquarium, too plecos often fish! Live fish, and peas territorial when kept with other bottom dwellers your mind must be About.! Other way is to inspect the genital papillae what do plecos eat bottom dwellers pleco fed as they... Pleco do eat algae, brown algae ; aquatic plants not eat live plants in the growth. Be fed regularly to make sure they get enough to eat algae, but that should only make a... On algae around the tank, but most should survive bands and pronounced dorsal and pectoral that!