Pleco Algae wafers

[MyShrimpDied]

hey dudes, i recently bought some algae wafers for my pleco to eat, and whenever i put one in, he never seems to go for it, and my guppy and tetras just pick at it. Is it going for it and im not seeing it? help me out with your algae wafer experience.

~ MyShrimpDied

 

[britta6867]

i just purchased a new placo and he does not eat the algea wafers either.instead he loves zuccini slices that i nuke for about a min and then place in the tank.try some other veggies too like cukes,carotts and romain lettuce.
good luck

 

[jacblades]

try feeding him at night.

 

[RobUK]

Yeah plecos are best feed with the light off, as the bright lights can give them cataraks and ultimatly blind them as they are nocturnal

What I do is pop mine some vegies in one night and then wafers a couple of nights later. As soon as I put it in the light goes off and hes out.

With the light being off the other fish struggle to find the food (unlike the pleco he has better night vission than me) so they dont eat it. Plus they think its bedtime anyway so go to sleep which keeps them out of the plecos way aswell and lets him eat in peace.

Whatever you do dont turn the light back on when he comes out eating to see him at work as the sudden shock can hurt his eyes and ultimatly stress him out

 

[holyherbiness]

how come my plecos sometimes stay in direct light during the day, like they sit on top of the driftwood instead of hiding in dark corners?

 

[valerie]

Yeah plecos are best feed with the light off, as the bright lights can give them cataraks and ultimatly blind them as they are nocturnal

I have never heard this before.Where did you find that stated this?

What type of pleco do you have? Some are more carnivourous(sp?) and would prefer shrimp pellets over algae waffers. Also feeding at night should help. Wait untill the lights have been turned off and the other fish are sleeping. But once he gets used to eatign waht you give him you can try feeding during the day. I feed all ym plecos during the day, that way i get to see them more often. Maybe try feeding zuchini or other veggies, most fish wont' try to eat them and the pleco can go over and eat when ever he wants.

 

[silentskream]

as plecos get older/ larger.. they tend to eat meatier foods (i learned this the hard way when mine decided to have escargot for dinner)

they are nocturnal, but they can be "trained" to eat at other times.

and "training" usually means "given no other choice"


my goldfish tended to "steal" the algea wafers from my pleco. and the only way i could fix it was to feed the goldfish late at night and get them distracted, then drop the wafer in a good hiding place. and then turn the lights off.


but really its just about finding what works best for your fish.

 

[RobUK]

Originally posted by valerie


I have never heard this before.Where did you find that stated this?

Serveral people have told me this, as plecos are sensistive to light being nocturnal and direct light can damage/hurt there eyes.

But I guess it can depend on what you have, the tank, light setup, etc and indeed the pleco could get accostumed to the light and sqiunt or something to aviod it probally???
Also if there is nowhere for them to hide that can have an impact as I have noticed if I dont give my sailfin anywhere to hide he will quite happily suck onto the side of the tank or something but given the chance of shade during the day he will take it. Then within about 5mins of lights out hes out on the prowl

Just out of interest, what meaty food are people feeding??? as I will see what mine makes of it

 

[jacblades]

I have never heard this before.Where did you find that stated this?

i had about an hour long discussion with a pleco breeder about plecos the other day. i was telling him how i didnt keep them because all the ones i have had have died in quarantine. he was saying how they are nocturnal creatures that often wont get the food you throw them if fed in the day time. since algae wafers contain a good amount of fish meal, they are attractive to other fish. the plecos come out to eat at night and there are no wafers left for them so they often starve.
but then again, i dont know because i havent ever had one for a long period of time-except in a pond (which i never see him anyways)

 

[OrionGirl]

I don't think plecos being nocturnal and prone to starving in aquairums (especially if offered only algae and greens) was being questioned, but rather that they might go blind or develop cataracts under bright lights.