Help with feeding a pleco

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SDWE61988

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 12, 2010
16
0
1
Maryland
Hello, I am new to this forum, and this is my first post. I have two tanks, a 75gal, and a 120gal. I have a pleco about 15 in in there who has been in there for about 1.5 years now. I have never had good luck with plecos vs most other fish. I have tried the wafers, cucumbers, cantalope and so one but he looks like he is starving. I have tried adding extra shrimp pellets during feeding time, much to the delight of the large Clownknife and black shark. I don't want to lose another one and would like to try bring this one back before it is to late. Any suggestions on top of the cumcumbers/melons that might help pack some meat back on him soon?

thanks,
 
Try bloodworms. Most of the time if they get hungry enought they figure it out, that they need to eat. I lost aL095 a while back because he just would not eat. He was wild caught. Sometimes you can't do a thing about it? IMO
 
Well, I hope this one will start eating again. I have had many others in a tank with the knife and shark, and they were always too timid to eat. This guy actually used to stand his ground. He has not done that in a while and now he looks thin. I have been trying to read the sticky at the top of the page on pleco food. I will have to try a couple different foods. He does not seem to really go after the cucumbers much. He used to like the cantalope, but we have not had it for little while now.
 
What type of pleco do you have? Have you tried zuchinni (blanched)? Another option, try sticking the shrimp pellets into the zuchinni/cucumber slices. That may make it harder for your other fish to eat the pellets and zuchinni/cucumber for your pleco.
 
I just saw that on the dietary sticky. (sticking the pellets in the veggie). although it might attract the black shark to it even more, because he is already is attacted to the veggies now. It might be worth a shot however. I will have to pick up a zuchinnie tonight and see if he eats it. Thanks,
 
Linus_Cello said:
What type of pleco do you have? Have you tried zuchinni (blanched)? Another option, try sticking the shrimp pellets into the zuchinni/cucumber slices. That may make it harder for your other fish to eat the pellets and zuchinni/cucumber for your pleco.
Click to expand...

I believe it is a sailfin pleco. I will try to id hime tonight. (Not real good with the latin names though)
 
Never heard of a pleco who wouldn't eat, especially wafers, mine loves them and zucchini /cucumber. You should be able to observe them eating, they aren't shy at all. Pleco will rest from time to time during eating so it may appear that they aren't eating much, they do this often and rest on a piece of food then go at it again.
 
Update:
I tried a carrot last week and a tomato. He did eat some of the carrot, and probably would have finished it if I left it in there. He really liked the tomato though. I put it in the tank Friday morning, and by Saturday night, it was completely gone. I added another on in there this morning before leaving for work. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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