i have an 8inch common pleco with a 10inch oscar and i was wondering if the pleco will eat the food that the oscar drops. i feed the oscar hikari pellets. thank for the help!
pleco diet?
- Thread starter keller54
- Start date
Vary the diet. Pellets alone will not suffice. Yes, your common pleco will eat the pellets but it also needs to be supplemented with other foods, not just food leftovers from your oscar. Plecos are nocturnal by nature so don't expect the pleco to pop up quickly as soon as you drop the food although in some cases, they usually show up quicker than most of their tankmates. Get a divider if you have trouble allowing the pleco to get its share of food. Overfeeding just to ensure the pleco has enough food, is not the best solution. A divider is only one way aside from permanent separation that will permit them to eat equally.
You can also shuttle food directly into the pleco's mouth with a plastic tube. Feed the Oscar first, then put the tube into the tank. If he investigates the tube, immediately (gently) tap his nose with it. He must know that the tube is not pleasant. Then get the tube next to the pleco's mouth and drop an algae wafer or pellet down into it. It will take a few days, but soon the pleco will dash toward the tube and wait anxiously for food, and Oscar will usually only need light reminders that the tube is unpleasant.
This is easier to do if the pleco is in a cave, but it's not strictly necessary. Just keep the tube in the tank while the pleco munches to keep Oscar away.
This is easier to do if the pleco is in a cave, but it's not strictly necessary. Just keep the tube in the tank while the pleco munches to keep Oscar away.