Need advices about pleco

[hamadrys]

Some months ago, I have inherited a pleco that was just left to eat algae on the rocks and was given nothing else. I started feeding him algae discs (1 per day) and since then, the poor baby grows like crazy ! :)
Now, besides the algae discs, I have read they can have vegetables like lettuce, broccoli...but I have no idea how to give this to him. He lives now in my community tank with 3 convicts cichlids and one female jaguar cichlid (7"). He measures approximately 4", is black with orange spots and he is not too fearful. The jag leaves him alone and he sometimes steals her food ;) .
He seems in pretty good shape, but I just want to know more about him, so I can improve his life. He is not nocturnal at all. Thanks for your advices.

[RioXingu]

Hi.
This link will provide you with information regarding the nutritional requirements of your pleco.

http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/pleco2.html

Bill in WI

[dwayne]

Excellent link Rio!

I put a slice of cucumber (peeled) into my tank once a week. I bought a suction cup clip (looks like a clown fish) that sticks to the side of the tank, and viola! My pleco goes into a food coma, just hanging off the cucumber eating it all up! I put the cucumber in on Wednesday around 7pm, and will take it out when I get home from work tonight... he usually doesn't touch it the first 10 horus or so that it's in the tank, I think because they like it softened up.

I tried lettuce once, but he didn't like it.

Good luck!
~Tara

[Barbie]

You might try leaving the peel on the cucumber. Most of the nutrition is there, and you'll be amazed how much of it he'll manage to eat. Lettuce isn't very nutritious, so probably better for the most part that he ignored it. Frozen brussel sprouts that have been thawed and cut in half or an excellent additional food for them, if you can stand the smell. I use french cut canned green beans, also. Just drain the water from the can, then dump the beans in a zip loc back, press flat, and freeze. Then you can break off the exact amount you need at any time.

Barbie

[hamadrys]

Thanks for the great tips. I am going to start with the cucumber, and also check that site for more advices.

[RioXingu]

I, too, have the clown fish clip doo-dad, but I rubber band it to a piece of slate and send it to the bottom.
It takes 2-3 days for my 6" pleco to eat a slice of zucchini; he leaves the rind for last.
I'm not sure if the clown pleco who shares the tank with him partakes of the veggies, since he is very shy and rarely leaves his rock cave.
However, he must be eating something because I've had him for almost 7 years.

Bill in WI