Pleco diet question & food safety

[NilusFishFamily]

Diet question & could it introduce parasites?

our pleco shares the tank with a goldfish, 125g freshwater. It’s planted but not w/anything they like to eat.

right now we do flakes AM for the goldfish
veg wafers & shrimp Pellets PM for the pleco (Goldie steals them)
Fruit or veg 1-2x per week apples, broccoli, zucchini, strawberries, watermelon, skinned peas

watermelon, strawberries and broccoli are the favorites. What crustaceans could we add?

Read somewhere that even boiled chicken and beef could be added?

Pic is mid water change. We are treating for Ich. Could Ich have come from any of the food? We rinse food well before serving and blanch the vegetables
No changes or additions to the tank since setup in November.

 

[Rocksor]

I doubt the food would have carried ich.

you want to feed chicken/beef to the pleco?

 

[NilusFishFamily]

I doubt the food would have carried ich.

you want to feed chicken/beef to the pleco?

Not particularly but if that’s what he needs we would do it

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Check out this website on Pleco diet etc. for more information: https://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=294. Planet Catfish is owned by a fellow mfker (thebiggerthebetter).

 

[Rocksor]

Not particularly but if that’s what he needs we would do it

Chicken or beef not required or needed by plecos. Carnivores pleco feed on fish, shrimp and other aquatic flesh/insects

 

[DarkOne]

I would ease up on the fruit. The sugars aren't good for plecos from what I've read though once in a while is ok. I have a pleco tank with 20 plecos and I only give them fresh zucchini and canned string beans (unsalted). I give them Ken's growth granules (high protein and fat) daily with Hikari algae wafers at night. You could give them cooked shrimp if you have carnivorous plecos.

 

[tlindsey]

I would ease up on the fruit. The sugars aren't good for plecos from what I've read though once in a while is ok. I have a pleco tank with 20 plecos and I only give them fresh zucchini and canned string beans (unsalted). I give them Ken's growth granules (high protein and fat) daily with Hikari algae wafers at night. You could give them cooked shrimp if you have carnivorous plecos.

Uncooked shrimp.

 

[DarkOne]

Uncooked shrimp.

I've read the packaged cooked shrimp from the supermarket was fine. I would guess either works.