How do you get your plecs to eat?

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annamarie92

annamarie92

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 19, 2015
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NC
So I'm new to plecos. I have a L200 and a galaxy, both small at about 1 inch. I've had them almost a week in my 120gal. Tank mate is a small Lima shovelnose, about 4inches. He's pretty chill and doesn't bother the plecos. They seem to hide all the time and I rarely ever see them. Sometimes they will come out and swim around at night. I've been dropping in shrimp pellets and Omega One veggie rounds along with Hikare sinking wafers in their area that they seem to frequent under some driftwood. I also have tried cucumber and broccoli. I've only seen them munch on the veggie rounds and wafers a few times since I've had them. Should I assume they're getting enough to eat? and that they will eat when hungry? I guess I'm just worried about them because I've never kept them before and am worried I will do something wrong. I know my Lima eats because I hand feed her. Any advice would be appreciated!! I just want to make sure they're taken care of.


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I wouldn't worry, my pleco only ever eats sinking pellets and algae strips I leave for him. He never so much as touched any veggies I attempted to give to him. I feel that sinking pellets are less of a hassle and are less messy to feed to plecos. Even then plecos still take a little time to recognize something as food. I'd try starving him for a little. I got mine to take floating hikari cichlid pellets by starving.
 
I have a similar problem. With my L600 and L200. i have a pearsei that is a glutton i mean seriously poses a problem in regards to feeding the plecos. Feeding at night after lights out doesnt work either. So i have been feeding them with tongs to ensure they get their share. It takes a few days for them to get used to it but its been working for me. My l200 love cucumber, zucchini, and red bell peppers.



https://youtu.be/d4nozSi2pEM



uploadfromtaptalk1430220503014.jpg

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Try zuchinni (blanched) and try sticking the pellets in the zuchinni. Garlic is supposedly an appetite stimulant, so if you want, rub cut garlic on the zuchinni.
Another idea, put in a coconut husk cave. An additional hiding place, and my L114 when they first started out would chew on the coconut husk. They'll feel more secure with more hiding places; try to place the food items near the entrance of the coconut cave.
 
jaws7777 said:
I have a similar problem. With my L600 and L200. i have a pearsei that is a glutton i mean seriously poses a problem in regards to feeding the plecos. Feeding at night after lights out doesnt work either. So i have been feeding them with tongs to ensure they get their share. It takes a few days for them to get used to it but its been working for me. My l200 love cucumber, zucchini, and red bell peppers.



https://youtu.be/d4nozSi2pEM



View attachment 1073009

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Click to expand...


Wow!!! Super great idea with the tongs. Now if only I could find them lol lots of places to hide in my 120g. I have a lot of driftwood and plants, and they're so small it's easy for them to hide.


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Linus_Cello said:
Try zuchinni (blanched) and try sticking the pellets in the zuchinni. Garlic is supposedly an appetite stimulant, so if you want, rub cut garlic on the zuchinni.
Another idea, put in a coconut husk cave. An additional hiding place, and my L114 when they first started out would chew on the coconut husk. They'll feel more secure with more hiding places; try to place the food items near the entrance of the coconut cave.
Click to expand...

Great idea!! That's something I definitely want to try. I have a small terra cotta pot that the Galaxy seems to love to hide in, I bet she would like the coconut cave. I do want to offer more smaller places to hide for them since they are so small. Maybe feeling more secure will make them come out more. Is it normal to not see a small pleco for a day or so? They were both out yesterday morning, haven't seen them much last night or this morning.


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Garlic is an appetite stimulant. NLS Ther A+ has it or you can soak other food. I have had good luck with it for many years.
 
Did you say 1 inch? in a 120g?

First of all, where ever you got the fish from, question their values. 1 inch is a little too small to sell, not stable enough and too easily die from stress. Pretty anything well stress a 1 inch pleco. It's also a lot harder to get them to eat. Especially in a 120 gallon tank that has other tank mates. Believe it or not, it'll be harder for them to find the food.

I'd suggest moving them to a smaller tank, with sponge filters, and feel them smaller food at first, like granules or even flakes. You can also try gel types of food, like Repashys, it's soilent green is for aufwuchs eaters, which actually describes L200's diet better than veggies. It can be left in the tank for longer periods of them for them to munch on, without breaking down too fast.

I normally would suggest leaving live blackworms in the tank 24/7, but at 1 inch, some of the worms will be longer than the plecos, so I am not sure if it'll be ok.

If you don't want to move them into a smaller tank, move them into a breeder box that you can keep in the main tank. Less to worry about in terms of water quality, they'll be protected, and can find their food without worrying about other fish getting to it. Have smaller pieces of driftwood in the breeder box for them to hide too.

1 inch is really way to small for anyone to sell.... that's just not right......
 
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