I have a 125 with a mix of red texas, bp's convicts, a jd and a large pearsei. Do you think the plecos would be ok? No one messes with the plecos at all but I hardly see them. I dont know if it's their natural behavior or if they are still adjusting to my tank. I've had them for a week now and I see the L15 out a few times, the L81 is out sometimes before the lights go off and I never see the L264. I have a lot of driftwood in the tank and I've been dropping zucchini for them but I don't if they're eating. I just worried that they might starve.
L264, L15 & L81 with mild manner cichlids?
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I don't often see my plecs eat, I feed them after dark, foods always gone and when i do see them they look fat and happy. You cichlids are a bit more boisterous and territorial than the ones I keep though, so keep an eye out and make sure they aren't pushing the plecs around.
Only one of those I've kept have been L81, but what you're describing is common pleco behavior. Some are more (or less) reclusive than others. Also tank, tankmates, tank scaping, etc. can make a difference. IME some plecos will do fine on algae and leftover food particles alone, but not all of them. IMO it's a good idea to drop something in for them after lights are out.
My current preference is NLS wafers, not exactly an "algae wafer" per se, but plecos want more protein than some people think and many pleco species are less strict herbivores than some people think. This is not a plug for a particular product, but the simple fact is a lot of the typical "algae wafers" out there are basically cheap products with a bit of fish meal added to a bevy of cereal and starch ingredients, plus a small amount of seaweed or spirulina or something similar to make what is actually a low end product with cheap ingredients sound like a good herbivore food. So if you're looking for a algae or bottom feeder wafer it's a good idea to scrutinize the ingredients imo.
What works for me is to drop a wafer in at night once or twice a week as basically insurance to make sure plecos are getting enough to eat and balanced nutrition. (Mine are small to medium size plecos, depending which tank.)
My current preference is NLS wafers, not exactly an "algae wafer" per se, but plecos want more protein than some people think and many pleco species are less strict herbivores than some people think. This is not a plug for a particular product, but the simple fact is a lot of the typical "algae wafers" out there are basically cheap products with a bit of fish meal added to a bevy of cereal and starch ingredients, plus a small amount of seaweed or spirulina or something similar to make what is actually a low end product with cheap ingredients sound like a good herbivore food. So if you're looking for a algae or bottom feeder wafer it's a good idea to scrutinize the ingredients imo.
What works for me is to drop a wafer in at night once or twice a week as basically insurance to make sure plecos are getting enough to eat and balanced nutrition. (Mine are small to medium size plecos, depending which tank.)