my pleco has started acting strange

[thrillbillie12]

i have a commen pleco, about 7 inches, yesterday i bought a smaller albino pleco, its about 3.5 to 4 inches. well my lager pleco has started to pick on the new pleco and everything else in the tank. they are both in a 55 gallon tank, i bought the new pleco cuz my first one became real lazy, it never moved and wasnt doing a good job keeping the tank clean. why is it that after i introduced a new pleco it became more active and some what aggressive.

 

[Muske]

Because it is bigger and they can be aggressive.

 

[WyldFya]

i have a commen pleco, about 7 inches, yesterday i bought a smaller albino pleco, its about 3.5 to 4 inches. well my lager pleco has started to pick on the new pleco and everything else in the tank. they are both in a 55 gallon tank, i bought the new pleco cuz my first one became real lazy, it never moved and wasnt doing a good job keeping the tank clean. why is it that after i introduced a new pleco it became more active and some what aggressive.

Your larger one became more aggressive because the space you have them in isn't sufficient. They aren't doing a good job cleaning your tank, because they aren't true algae eaters, and you aren't feeding them properly. Read the nutrition sticky at the top of the pleco section.

 

[thrillbillie12]

Your larger one became more aggressive because the space you have them in isn't sufficient. They aren't doing a good job cleaning your tank, because they aren't true algae eaters, and you aren't feeding them properly. Read the nutrition sticky at the top of the pleco section.

wow, i just read that sticky, i had no idea they needed more to eat than just algee. if you wouldnt mind tho, what o you think the best diet is for a common pleco.

 

[Ianab]

what o you think the best diet is for a common pleco.

They are omnivores and will eat almost anything

There is just not enough algae in a normal tank to feed a large pleco.

But best diet seems to be a mix of sinking Spirulina or Algae tablets and fresh veges like zuchini, cucumber, green beans, mushroom etc. An occasional meaty treat like shrimp pellets or a whole shrimp is good for them too.

The agression toward a new pleco is pretty normal too. Hopefully they will work things out and settle down. There may be a few ripped fins before that happens though.

Cheers

Ian

 

[davo]

They will be settling territories to start with. I'd give them about a 65:35 veg:meat diet.