Common Pleco Question

[rommel39]

Well, my common pleco of about 7 or so years has been acting a bit strange as of late. Instead of annililating his cuke slice, he is taking a few bites and then leaves the rest. But now he is coming to the top of the tank and feeding on the flake mix for the platies, something he used to only do when he was super-hungery (when we came home from being out of town). I tried going to yellow squash slices thinking maybe he was just bored with the cuke slices but he didn't seem anymore or any less interested on those either. Of course he loves the algae waffers and I put any where between four to five in the tank every night, but he is still coming to the top of the tank and feasting on the flake mix, what is going on? Anybody else ever have a pleco that one day decides he doesn't like cuke slices anymore?

 

[Lotus]

Maybe he's just craving some protein. Perhaps the summer makes him want something else. Or maybe he doesn't like that particular cucumber.

 

[rommel39]

Well it's been several different cukes and some yellow squash--if it is protein that he is craving, what would be the best for source for that (you know, other than throwing in a boneless chicken breast into the tank)? Or what other food options are there?

 

[Lotus]

A lot of the "algae" wafers are mostly fish meal, so those are higher protein. Flake, of course, is, too. Check the algae wafer packs to see what the main (first) ingredient is. Some plecos like shrimp pellets, too.

I doubt he'll have huge nutritional issues if he doesn't have cucumber for a while. Some like zucchini, so you could try that or romaine lettuce, if you want him to get his vegetables. Sure, they're not protein, but maybe he wants something else this week.

 

[big54bob]

You could give him market prawn as a protein source. Commons are omnivorous and need both veggies and protein sources for a healthy and balanced diet.