Just started a new tank, how long should I wait to put a pleco in the new tank for it to be ok??? tank mates will be 1 convict, and 1 severum...
how long to wait
- Thread starter bigdaddy
- Start date
I would wait until green algae starts to show up in the tank.
Not for the Pleco to eat, as it will eat all of the algae in the tank and eventually require supplemental feeding.
Green algae is a good indicator of system maturity.
Not for the Pleco to eat, as it will eat all of the algae in the tank and eventually require supplemental feeding.
Green algae is a good indicator of system maturity.
eventually require supplemental feeding??? are you talkin about algae tabs?? i have a pleco that has never had any thing for over 4 years now all he gets to eat is what the cichlids in my tank get lol. if thats good or bad i was never told? and hes 8 to 9 inches long..
missed food fed to other fish is supplemental feeding of a sort. It also depends on the species. Some are herbivores, some carnivore, some just whatever they can (omnivore, opportunists) But a lot of them are herbivores. The algae wafers are good but they like vegetative matter. Zucchini (sp), squash, etc. slice em up stick a fork through it and drop it in the tank. I have some who love green beans. Of course 4yrs without veggies, it might not know what it is and may take awhile for it to start grazing on the veggies.
thats cool thanks i will do that with my new pleco when i get him and i will try it with the old fella!!
Be patient with them as these veggies will be in a different form than they would get in nature but they'll come around. Also it's best to put it in the tank at lights out as they are nocturnal.
A pleco will be safe to put in the tank as soon as it is cycled. No matter how big of a tank you have it will not grow enough algae to feed a pleco properly, so no need to wait for algae to grow IMO. You should start feeding the pleco its own food as soon as you get it, not expect it to eat the leftovers. What species you get will depend on the dietary needs. When you get an idea of what pleco you want let us know and someone will help you out with the needs of that particular species.