Pleco won't eat veggies!

[FancyFins]

I read the sticky thread about Pleco diets and decided to try again to feed mine some veggies. I got "him" as a baby (sold as a Hypostomus, and now 2 years old and about 5" long w/o counting the tail fin), and when I tried to feed him cucumber way back then, it just sat in the tank and got slimy. But now I see they need more veg as they get older, so maybe that's why he didn't want it then.

So last night I gave him a chunk of blanched zucchini - nothing. I stayed up half the night, kept sneaking up to see if he was on it, but he went to the other end of the tank from the food and stayed there. Took the zuke out this morning and gave him a raw broccoli floret - nothing. I've seen him rooting around during the daytime this week, and I put it right beside his hidey spot (behind the filter intake) but he just stayed put. I took it out this afternoon. Can't risk leaving it in too long because I've been fighting ammonia and pH levels all week. Current readings: pH 6.8, Ammon .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10-20.

My theory is, either he doesn't realize the food is there, or he's ignoring it entirely. Could it be the bright orange "clown fish" vegi-clip keeping him away? Am I just not choosing the right veggie for him? Is he too full? Or blind? It usually takes him a while to find the algae wafers, even when I drop one right in front of him. Often, the guppies get their fill first. :irked:

I guess he's not starving, because there's plenty of poo! :grinyes: Just wanted to be a good fish keeper.

[wataugachicken]

try again with the zucchini, but when you put the water on the stove, crush up a clove of garlic and put it in there as the water heats up and during the boiling. garlic is an appetite stimulant and the scent of it should attract your pleco to the zucchini. once the fish realizes that zucchini=food, you won;t need the garlic anymore.

[shaggbark]

Wow, that's excellen advice wataugachicken (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=24159).

I agree, keep trying!

[FancyFins]

Thanks for the tip - I'll try it tonight!

[FancyFins]

I blanched some zucchini with garlic last night, per the tip above, and put it next to the pleco's "hiding" spot (I wish my dang driftwood would arrive, already! I ordered it weeks ago!). The guppies all came to gawk and take turns pecking at it, but Mr. Pleco swam-as-fast-as-he-could to the opposite corner of the tank and was still there hours later. Maybe he's actually a vampire pleco? *ba-dum-bump* :grinyes:

I don't understand. :confused: Why won't he even look at the veggies I've put in? I didn't feed him any algae tabs or shrimp pellets - seems like he would be happy to get it. Maybe I'll try some lettuce/spinach - see if that makes a difference. Any other ideas? :idea: Canteloupe? Throw a whole stir-fry in there? :grinyes:

[KidInTheHall]

Yeah it took me almost 2 days to get my plecos to notice the veggies but now I can't keep them away from it.

[elks]

Might want to try dark green outer leaves from romaine lettice or frenched green beans from a can.Works on my Plecos.

[RoseFishWatcher]

I'd also try some raw zucchini. My plecos seem to prefer it that way. I just stick a fork through it to sink it.

[KnaveTO]

I never blanch the veggies that go in my tank... they last all night that way and I am not removing vitamins from the vegetable. Also not all plecos will take to veggies... I have a L031 that loves his zuchini and a L066 that won't go near it... the L183 is slowly investigating them

[drgold]

just keep trying. My plecs sometimes take weeks to realize that a zuccini is food. Also, don't look in the tank and bother the fish. If it starts to associate zuccini with a big scary person looking in on him, you're sunk.

drop in the zuccini (raw, only blanch for tiny fry) in the tank, turn out the lights, and leave the fish alone until morning. keep this up until he eats it. it's really as easy as that.

[drgold]

just keep trying. My plecs sometimes take weeks to realize that a zuccini is food. Also, don't look in the tank and bother the fish. If it starts to associate zuccini with a big scary person looking in on him, you're sunk.

drop in the zuccini (raw, only blanch for tiny fry) in the tank, turn out the lights, and leave the fish alone until morning. keep this up until he eats it. it's really as easy as that.

[FancyFins]

I put some lettuce in last night (iceberg - it's all I have at the moment). The guppies thought it fascinating and immediately took to pecking at the edges (but then, they peck at my arm, too :grinyes:). Mr. Plecko... ran away. :silly: But I spied him on it once - oh yes, I did! And there was a centimeter-sized hole in it this morning. I guess he wasn't terribly impressed, but it's a start. :)

Funnily enough, just as I was starting to type this post, I noticed him moving and turned my head real quick. He was going *mwah mwah mwah* but stopped right away and looked at me warily. I think he might have been munching a water plant, as there was a little bare end right next to his mouth. Hmmm.... guess I'd better try again to ID it. It grows verrry slowly, so if he is eating it, it's not long for this world.

[TKOS]

I would try hard to id that fella. If it is a common pleco then your tank is of course way too small.

On the other hand, the fact that it is eating algae waffers is good. They have such short digestive systems that they just need lots of bulk foods in their diet. Algae alone would kill them but you have at least started him on prepared foods. Just keep trying different veggies with him.

[Malefic23]

Yeah, get us a picture of the fish, as clear as you can make it, from a couple different angles. We might be able to ID him for you. Some pleco species don't take as readily to veggies, and some don't eat them at all. Still sounds like you're on a good path though.

One thing of note. Blanching or par boiling zuchini is not really to soften it up much, it's mostly to kill any fungus living on the skin. It also helps to remove pesticides and waxes.

[legendaryfrog]

I didnt have much luck giving my plecos zucchini and other vegetables either. I tried giving them slightly blanched canteloupe, and they starting sucking on it immediately!

[FancyFins]

It's a common/hypostomus. I wanted to ID the plant. Took a break from feeding last night, so nothing to report. Will try cantaloupe next (if the kids leave any).

[Reega]

Hello! don't blanched the cucumber. give half lengthwise & peel the outer skin then slit veg. wafers or tablet in different part of the cucumber. My common plec loves it. Alternate it with zucchini without the skin.
My plec lives on this diet. he is about 11 inches now. I bought him 1 inch last September.

[Malefic23]

Hello! don't blanched the cucumber. give half lengthwise & peel the outer skin then slit veg. wafers or tablet in different part of the cucumber. My common plec loves it. Alternate it with zucchini without the skin.
My plec lives on this diet. he is about 11 inches now. I bought him 1 inch last September.

Good way of getting him interested in veggies too! You can also try studding some veg with shrimp pellets.

[juliemcgrew83]

My plecos love cucmber and oranges(not kidding). Try holding the fresh food down with an ornament already in the tank. My plecos won't go near the veggie clip.

[Carp37]

My gibbiceps is a bit slow on the uptake at finding lettuce, but courgette (zucchini in American???) and cucumber he now finds within a minute. It is worth persevering- just watch your water params if he continues not to eat it.