Can Plecos eat fish flakes?
Plecos are omnivores, meaning they need meat as well as vegetables. They eat algae, algae wafers, zucchini, squash, cucumber, earthworms, shrimp, and more. They’ll eat almost any fish food that drops to the bottom, but this can’t be their entire diet.
Why is my algae eater eating fish food?
There is some evidence to suggest that poorly fed algae eaters are more likely to try to feed on the sides of other fish. Evidence suggests that they attack the slime coat as they are looking for nutrients and will attach to the sides of other fish to try to feed on this.
How do you know if your pleco is hungry?
After you provide food for your pleco, watch and see if your pleco gobbles it down. If your pleco immediately begins to munch on the food, they may be overly hungry and need to be fed more often. If your pleco ignores the food, they may need to be fed less often.
What fish are compatible with plecos?
Pleco Habitat Companions Plecostomus are omnivorous bottom-feeders and can be safely housed with fish much smaller than themselves. Plecos generally pair well with cichlids, angelfish, barbs, bettas, other catfish species, gouramis, guppies, hatchets, loaches, mollies and platies.
What do plecos like eating?
A well-balanced pleco diet consists of: Algae and sinking algae wafers. Plecos require plenty of fiber. Supplement with raw zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, lettuce, spinach or cucumbers as a treat once or twice a week.
Do common plecos eat fish?
Hypostomus plecostomus or common suckermouth catfish (plecos) seldom kill and eat other fish. They are omnivorous scavengers, but occasionally, they may kill another fish if the living conditions are poor. Generally, the plecos only scavenge on an already dead fish in the aquarium.
Do common plecos eat algae?
Plecos. Various South American suckermouth catfish are effective algae-eaters. The most popular are the various species sold as “plecos.” The namesake for the group, the common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus), is an excellent algae-eater but is not the best choice for most hobbyists.
How do you tell if a pleco is stressed?
If you notice that your fish is breathing heavily or gasping for air, or if you pick up on any behavioral (reduced activity, excessive hiding, sporadic movements or decreased appetite), physical (nicks or tears) or color changes (lighter to darker, darker to lighter, discoloration or spots), they could be suffering …
Can 2 plecos live together?
A pair of plecos can sometimes flourish together, but only if they were introduced to a tank at the same time, and as babies. If two plecos are used to being around each other and haven’t ever been apart, they can often find success — and tranquility — in being around each other.