Feeding my pleco

[Hom3yboy22]

What kind of fruits and veggies can i feed my plecos, and which ones are unsafe for them to eat?

I was thinking of feeding them sliced apples, bananas, cucumber? Are they ok?

and whats your recommendations?

 

[mrtoofay]

Not sure about bananas, it may foul water too quickly. Most types squash, potatoes, carrots, lettuces, broccoli stalk are all ok. Some people find water rind are enjoyed by plecos as well.

I feed them carrots and kabocha squash because they are cheap, and they can stay in tank for couple days at least before even showing signs of fouling up water. My royals like to start with the skins on the squash, everyone else starts from the flesh. I find that cucumber is also on the messy side, seeds everywhere, and breaks up easily.

 

[David R]

Cucumber is mostly water and not worth feeding, courgette/zucchini is better. I also feed sweet potato and pumpkin to mine, I'd stay away from soft things like banana.

 

[Cueball703]

I don't know about the nutritional value, but when I put Cucumber slices in my tank, all of my Yoyo Botias and Plecos come out and devour it. The funny thing is, they seem to leave the outer circle of the slices behind. They also seem to especially love the seeds from the Cucumber slices.

 

[tlindsey]

Along with zucchini, I would feed my Pleco's Algae Disc.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Look through this "sticky" thread on feeding:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?42856-Pleco-Dietary-Thread-(2-Viewing)

Also, what type of pleco? Supposedly carrots/orange squash will help with orange coloration in plecos like L24/25/114/600 (but my L114/600 won't touch veggies).

 

[mrtoofay]

Hm... it wasn't that late when I replied.. how come my post sounded so bad? water rind = watermelon rind. And just skip through all the grammar and spelling errors....

 

[Hom3yboy22]

Also, what type of pleco? Supposedly carrots/orange squash will help with orange coloration in plecos like L24/25/114/600 (but my L114/600 won't touch veggies).

i dont know exactly what pleco it is, but its just the common pleco literally every lfs has.

I feed them carrots and kabocha squash because they are cheap, and they can stay in tank for couple days at least before even showing signs of fouling up water. My royals like to start with the skins on the squash, everyone else starts from the flesh. I find that cucumber is also on the messy side, seeds everywhere, and breaks up easily.

how do you prepare your carrots? Do you just was them? Or do you skin them to? Also do you boil them a little to make them easier for consumption, or just throw them in as is?

 

[mrtoofay]

Just stick a piece on a fork and toss it in. Start with a smaller piece and go from there, adjust according to it's appetite. Tie a string or fishing line to the fork for easy retrieval, or use a magnet.