so i have 2 oscars (bout 8") in my tank with two plecos. one is about 13" and one is only about 5". so i feed the pleco's algae wafers, or at least try to. i'll feed the o's some pellets to distract, then drop in a few wafers. but sure enough the **** oscars go and eat those of the bottom too. they are greedy fish. are there like super large wafers that the o's couldn't eat? or do i have to go for the zuchinni (sp?) tied to a rock? if so do i just use fresh from meijer? do you tie it to a rock so that it is like a bouy (sp?) or do you tie it tightly to the rock and they just munch on it from there? fishing line good for rope? let me know asap. my plecos are hungry!
how can i feed my pleco
- Thread starter csm84
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Well, I don't have to deal with Oscars, but I use a rubber band to tie zuchinni on a rock. Another suggestion is to feed the plecos at night, after the lights have been out for a while. This is when the plecos are most active.l
I dont have much experience with south americans but I do know that after plecos reach a certain size they tend to move on to other foods besides algae. I would try flakes. I have seen mine even eat the mysis shrimp and krill I feed my africans. But if they dont accept flakes try the zuchinni. Just a suggestion.
I am encountering the same problem, I have an L270 pleco which feeds on meat not algae, but now that my 55g has 10 Malawi cichlids, there is nothing that makes it to the bottom, and anything that does, they find and eat. I can notice my pleco's belly has thinned and I am very nervous, I tried the no lights and sure enough those **** smart cichlids were still eating it in pitch black, I saw the reflections, at the top of the water. Any techniques or tricks to play would sure be appreciated.
Possibility??
I'm a newbie at this but i have read that plecos like those vacation food pyramids.....they just latch on to em and munch away....might be something to think about.
I'm a newbie at this but i have read that plecos like those vacation food pyramids.....they just latch on to em and munch away....might be something to think about.
Don't know if this will work for you but...
When I had an Oscar and a Pictus I'd dissolve pellets in the cup to where they were squishy. Then mash them up so they sink fast. Next I'd give the Oscar plenty of floating pellets and drop the mash to the bottom. The Oscar didn't seem to want to eat the mash when there were nice round pellets on top of the water.
When I had an Oscar and a Pictus I'd dissolve pellets in the cup to where they were squishy. Then mash them up so they sink fast. Next I'd give the Oscar plenty of floating pellets and drop the mash to the bottom. The Oscar didn't seem to want to eat the mash when there were nice round pellets on top of the water.
My plecos love dried bloodworms. They will fight my oscars for them. My plecos will swim to the top of the tank and will invert where they are using the surface tension of the water like they are on glass. I have been splashed several times, and I think I have pictures of them doing it. I will post them if I can dig them up.
I have little experience with plecos as Ive only had one that made it to a healthy 6inches before I sold him.
I never fed him anything special. He grew and grew just eating what he could. I would occasionally see him eating pellets that sank to the bottom, but other than that, Ive never actually watched him attack a piece of food.
I feed all my fish a varied diet which includes flakes, shrimp, live foods like worms and feeder guppies, dried worms and brine shrimp. So maybe that explains why my pleco got enough to eat.
If it makes you feel better though, try just dropping some blanched lettuce in the tank at the same time you feed your Oscars some shrimp. YOu canNOT tell me your Oscars would rather have a salad when there is a steak on the plate.
I never fed him anything special. He grew and grew just eating what he could. I would occasionally see him eating pellets that sank to the bottom, but other than that, Ive never actually watched him attack a piece of food.
I feed all my fish a varied diet which includes flakes, shrimp, live foods like worms and feeder guppies, dried worms and brine shrimp. So maybe that explains why my pleco got enough to eat.
If it makes you feel better though, try just dropping some blanched lettuce in the tank at the same time you feed your Oscars some shrimp. YOu canNOT tell me your Oscars would rather have a salad when there is a steak on the plate.
I used to get really concerned about my pl*co getting enough food. I would wait until the lights were out for a bit then try and sneak something past my oscar, or feed my oscar and while he was busy eating drop some algae wafers in on the other side of the tank-he still went and ate those sometimes. Then I saw how much he was growing and growing, so I assumed he was getting food somehow, cleaning up after my messy oscar I assume, he's always got a big belly and looks healthy so I don't worry too much.