Cucumber and Fork is no Carrot and Stick

[Midwater]

How many times I have read that plecos love cucumber, or zucchini (which is broadly a cucumber), and it can be weighed down with a fork.

This cucumber has been in for twenty four hours now. With a fork. And a bit of string so that I can pull it out easily. And all I get from my plecs is pure indifference.

I do understand that the L14 and L24 are mostly carnivorous, and have plenty of ghost shrimp. But the L200 was not interested either.

Below you can see the L14 right next to the cucumber, and totally disinterested. L24 still stuck in its hideout in the flower pot.

So much for all plecs loving cucumber.

 

[Rob909]

How many times have you offered cucumber before this?
It may take a couple times for them to realize it’s food. I’d say pull it for now and try again with a fresh one in a couple days.
another tip is to cut it to expose the flesh. Unlike the panaque species, my l14 usually goes for the flesh and not the skin.
good idea with the string though. I use a collapsible magnet to easily grab the forks back out of the tank.

 

[FJB]

If you offer the cucumber with the flesh exposed, it will attract fish better.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

My pleco a would only eat the flesh and completely ignored the skin. Cut it in half length wise next time

 

[Gunfleet]

+1 on try cutting it in half. That seemed to entice my Scobinancistus more that a skin on zuchinni. That being said, my Pseudacanthicus love to eat the skin and would leave the soft parts for everyone else.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

+1 to the advice on exposing the flesh. Before I had to rehome my bristlenose due to all its poop, it didn't touch the skin either.

 

[Midwater]

All right. About to cut it in half, and see what happens.

 

[tonymofo]

Yea cutting in half helps…. But how I get all of them to eat veggies is I put it in at night and turn the lights off. When I check the tank in a hour or 2 I leave the tank lights off and I can see most of them are out eating. The only way I can tell if they are eating is there full bellies. They usually go back to there hiding spot if they can see me.

 

[twentyleagues]

Lol I'm sorry I thought this was a joke at first.
Really though you need to slice it up. "Coins" work the best.

 

[Midwater]

After cutting it in half, this is what is left on the fork. A right mess, with bits of cucumber floating around.

Maybe they had a veggie feast, but not an L number in sight.