I feed my tank a variety of food. I have a 6 inch red tailed black shark who is very fat. We feed brine shrimp, blood worms, tropical flake with added meat flake, algae wafers, and the variety sinking wafers. I also put green peppers. and cucumbers in my tank for the pleco , and have seen the shark and barbs pick at it as well. We just feed something different every time we feed so none of the fish get bored with their diet. I have even seen him sucking on the plants in my tank like the pleco does. He's so fun to watch.