Pleco sucking on fish

[knifegill]

Cucumber is worthless. Might as well add a spoonful of water and nitrates to the tank. Zucchini is FAR superior.

 

[studd muffin]

I don't know how this gets passed around... plecos are fish that need to be fed just like any other fish. Anytime they are NOT fed they will seek their own source which is other fish.

I know!

Throw in some algea wafers or a piece of cucumber. That might do the trick. Worked out great for me.

 

[superj76]

Make sure you have a good piece of driftwood also.

 

[spwd]

What kind of fish is it sucking on and how long has it been doing it?
This is never a good thing because once they have a taste for it,even if you feed them they may see it as just another food source.


Steve

 

[Allan01230]

Yes plecos need to be fed some are vegitarian some are carnivores, REsearch people!

 

[TomioEndlicheri]

keep the plecos well fed and they won't have your fish's slimecoat as snacks

 

[sigaru]

yes, as everyone else has said, it's a pretty common problem, especially with slower moving and docile bottom dwellers, such as bichirs [docile to all but their food at least]. they can suck the slime coats right off [as several people have said], which leaves their skin open to bacteria and infections, which can kill the victim fish. i was having a problem with my [gorgeous] rhinoceros pleco trying it on my new ornate bichir, so i seperated them [old tank was an agressive with two oscars, now i have a community with glofish (so cute!) as well]. it may have just been something he was trying once or twice, but i've read other bichir/pleco keepers saying that "once a slime sucker, always a slime sucker," and as i said, my bichir is pretty laid back and didn't really bother to get away too much, so i decided to permanantly seperate. keep an eye on the fish that was being sucked on to make sure no ich or any other infections appear, and keep your pleco well fed. as other people have said, make sure to integrate all parts of your specific type of pleco's diet, and blanch [boil] the fruits and veggies first. it softens them for eating, and i also find that it helps them sink to the bottom. someone may have already posted, but this is a thread at the top of this forum which is very helpful with feeding plecos: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42856

 

[Ianab]

Just to add to what everyone else has said, most plecos are actually omnivores and will eat meaty food if given the chance. Of course they should be fed mostly veges, but they also eat shrimp pellets, bits of shrimp, bloodworms, and slow tankmates.

My big guy floats to the top for cichlid pellets, and chases my Oscar away from them.

Ian

 

[spwd]

what kind of fish was it sucking on?



Steve