New pleco not sure what to do though

[the spot]

so i got a free 12" pleco (i have no idea what kind) and i don't know what it needs to eat so.... any advice? hoping something inexpensive.

 

[le patron]

algae wafers with vegetables like sliced zuchinni(boil it first to soften it for like 30 seconds)

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

Most likely a common pleco.

 

[the spot]

anything wrong with it being in a piranha tank with 4 4" RBP as well? will it eat a potatoe?

 

[DrUgS]

At that size you probably wont have a problem with the reds. Just make sure it can get away from them in a decoration if it needs to. Every shoal is different, some like pleco friends, some like pleco dinners. There is always a risk when adding anything to a tank with P's.

 

[ben1020123]

you can also feed it shrimp pellets.

 

[solchitlins]

yeah, I have had good luck with the yellow zuchini, rubberbanded to a rock with some pelets stuck in it.

My whole tank seems to enjoy pecking at it though so not sure if my goldie pleco ever comes out of hiding to get at it.
I hope he does but seems content with sucking driftwood.

 

[ShadowStryder]

algae wafers with vegetables like sliced zuchinni(boil it first to soften it for like 30 seconds)

You don't need to boil it. Ive been in hobby for over 22 years and kept
plecos of many many veggie based species and have never boiled it. And
they have all devoured it.
It really depends on what species you have, if a high meat/protein based
species it will need that type of base diet, with veggies to supplement it.
If a veggie based species that would be a veggie diet with protein to
supplement.

 

[the spot]

i have a smaller 3" pleco that eats zuchini when its available but has been devouring shrimp in front of my p's for the past couple months though...

 

[Ullopincrate]

all good advice. I have had some heartbreaks with plecos/ piranha. You just never know when one will get a wild hair and then they all jump in.