Hi there everyone!
My name is Anna, and I have a 20 gallon tropical tank where my 2" Plecostomus lives with his little chinese algae eater friend and also 7 other smaller peaceful fish. I have read a lot about the Pleco page, and it has been helpful to me. I am worried about my Plecy though because I am concerned he is not getting enough to eat.
When I bought him and his chinese algae eater friend, I didn't realize they'd be able to clean the tank so well together! So, first I got him some lettuce and he didn't like it. then I got him some cucumber and he didn't like it (his chinese friend did though). Then some squash, and he hated it. Finally, I got some algae tablets, and he doesn't even go after those much either. I watch him at night too, when he wiggles around the tank looking for snacks, but I just can't get him to eat what I give him.
I don't think he's sick because He has a great appetite for the algae already existing in the tank as well as my live plant, and he makes half a foot long poops that he hangs on the plants like Christmas decorations.
Anyways, i just want to make sure he's getting enough to eat, because he's my favorite fish.
Can you help me?
My plecy is also one of my favorite fish!! HE IS VERRY SPOILED AND BEGS!! On Robyn's Pleco page...a reader told her you can know if there he (or she) is geting enough food by looking at the indentation level behind the eyes if its sloped; hes hungry,if its normal, hes eating, and if its elevated, HES HAPPY!! for mine he just eats the fish food(tetra color extreme pellets) at the bottom and can care less about the algae wafers...(the AfricanClawedFrog eats those!!!) hope this helps!! And yes they poop A LOT!!
I've once heard one of the more experienced fishkeepers I know say, that you should have a look at the Pleco's tummy, if the tummy is bulging, then he is eating enough, and if the tummy is flat then you need to feed him more.
I don't know wether this is true, but i feed my plecos according to that rule, and not one of them is dead.
Also I've found that young plecos rarely is seen eating, just the basic glass sucking and camping under the heater, it's only when they become bigger that they ever eat the food I give them.
I would appreciate Robyn's opinion on the tummy thing though.
I would hate to say something that is wrong and only somebody's opinion and have it believed.
Thanks Robyn
:D
A 2" pleco doesn't need to eat very much. He may eat it when you're not looking, later at night. Since he's making those nice decorations around the tank, it sounds like he's getting enough to eat for now!
A healthy pleco won't be skinny or fat. How to judge what that "just right" looks like may be hard if you're not used to seeing that species of fish. If you post a photo of a pleco from various angles, I can give an opinion on that but it's hard to describe.