Feeding pleco

[Colek1991]

I recently bought an aquarium. I have not had one since I was quite young. I bought a 125 gallon that said it came with 20+ fish. I got there and the tank was a mess and there were 14 African cichlids a cuckoo catfish and a pleco. All of the cichlids looked sick. I cleaned the tank up and bought a new fx6 filter, two new heaters, a power head and I have two aquaclear 110 filters on the way as back up. The cichlids all seem to be doing well now other than the one that died. They all had sunken bellies. I bought Cichlid pellets and some spirulina flakes and some blood worms and mysis shrimp. Is there anything else I should be feeding the catfish and pleco? I don’t put the blood worms or mysis shrimp in very often.

 

[Colek1991]

The one that died is the one that’s second from the right at the top. I was told he could have just been old as well

 

[Colek1991]

It’s been almost a month since I got them now and they seem to be ok. I was also wondering if it would be ok to add more fish soon. If so could I also get another cat fish or two or just more cichlids?

 

[tlindsey]

It’s been almost a month since I got them now and they seem to be ok. I was also wondering if it would be ok to add more fish soon. If so could I also get another cat fish or two or just more cichlids?

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Welcome aboard

It depends on the specie of Pleco you have a few require wood in their diet but most will be fine on algae wafer's. I'm pretty new to African Cichlids myself but do know if you do add more it has to be more than one at a time. Adding a single African Cichlid will be singled out and probably killed or harrassed.

 

[BIG-G]

If you know the pleco species, post it. If not post as good a photo as possible.
This will help with recommendation.

 

[Colek1991]

It actually looks like a bristle nose so I don’t think it will get bigger but is the white normal?

 

[Rob909]

A bit hard to tell with the water spots on the outside of the tank, but it looks like a bristlenose’s color pattern. They have a blotchy light tan against a dark brown pattern. As long as that’s not scale rot or anything. Try to get a different angle when it lets you. I know, easier said than done.

 

[Colek1991]

Sorry probably hard to see again with the blue light

 

[ryang85]

Its a bristlenose which like to chew driftwood but dont necessarily need it. I have African cichlids and always have trouble feeding wafers since the cichlids always get to them before the pleco does so I have a small piece of driftwood for them to chew on and get some of the extra nutrients. If you boil some cucumber or broccoli slices and drop them in once a week it will help your cichlids and your pleco as well.

Also I would avoid the blood worms with most cichlids especialy mbuna. Blood worms can cause bloat due to the fact they are mostly protein, brine shrimp are much better. You can give them blood worms as a treat every few weeks but try not to let them stuff themselves .

 

[Colek1991]

Ok thanks.