Do Bulldog Plecos need wood in their diet?
Most Pleco do- but in researching my Bulldog (Rubber Mouth/Rubber Lipped) Pleco before buying him I noted that several sources online made a specific mention that this pleco does not need wood in his diet.
Thus, although I've long intended to put a piece of driftwood in my aquarium- I haven't rushed it thinking my bulldog didn't need it. (I've been curing a piece in salt water outside for the last 2½ weeks to leach all the tannins out- changing the water when it gets brown-tinted).
Back when I was cycling I got some cheap bulbs from Walmart- one of those things where you buy a pack of about 5 and they're magically supposed to come alive with-in a few weeks. Mine never did- they've been in about 6 weeks- I'm considering removing them- I've lost hope for them... especially since they now appear to be partially eaten by my bulldog.
The last few nights he has moved a couple to the entrance of his cave and appears to have eaten off the woody outer coating of them. (I assume it was him).
It makes me wonder if he is so desperate for wood that he is eating the bulbs. He is well fed- did a wonder on my diatoms- eats his veggies like a good boy and I always drop in a few algae tabs and shrimp pellets before lights out. (hopefully he finds some before the shrimp do). He's still mostly nocturnal- but does come out during the day and forages from time to time when the kids arn't thumping around the house.
They're (Bulldog plecos) not supposed to like wood- I wonder if he was misidentified or if the sites online that specifically say he doesn't need wood are wrong. (he looks just like the bulldog pleco photos I've seen).
Should I go ahead and bring the driftwood in- and accellerate the process of preparing my driftwood by boiling it for a long time? Wood was sitting outside above the soil in the sun for 9 months and has been salt water cured for 2½ weeks... not quite ready yet as it still leaks a little bit of tannins out... but it's getting closer.
Most Pleco do- but in researching my Bulldog (Rubber Mouth/Rubber Lipped) Pleco before buying him I noted that several sources online made a specific mention that this pleco does not need wood in his diet.
Thus, although I've long intended to put a piece of driftwood in my aquarium- I haven't rushed it thinking my bulldog didn't need it. (I've been curing a piece in salt water outside for the last 2½ weeks to leach all the tannins out- changing the water when it gets brown-tinted).
Back when I was cycling I got some cheap bulbs from Walmart- one of those things where you buy a pack of about 5 and they're magically supposed to come alive with-in a few weeks. Mine never did- they've been in about 6 weeks- I'm considering removing them- I've lost hope for them... especially since they now appear to be partially eaten by my bulldog.
The last few nights he has moved a couple to the entrance of his cave and appears to have eaten off the woody outer coating of them. (I assume it was him).
It makes me wonder if he is so desperate for wood that he is eating the bulbs. He is well fed- did a wonder on my diatoms- eats his veggies like a good boy and I always drop in a few algae tabs and shrimp pellets before lights out. (hopefully he finds some before the shrimp do). He's still mostly nocturnal- but does come out during the day and forages from time to time when the kids arn't thumping around the house.
They're (Bulldog plecos) not supposed to like wood- I wonder if he was misidentified or if the sites online that specifically say he doesn't need wood are wrong. (he looks just like the bulldog pleco photos I've seen).
Should I go ahead and bring the driftwood in- and accellerate the process of preparing my driftwood by boiling it for a long time? Wood was sitting outside above the soil in the sun for 9 months and has been salt water cured for 2½ weeks... not quite ready yet as it still leaks a little bit of tannins out... but it's getting closer.
