Ple*co May not be getting enought food

[fishkid64]

Hey, the title basically explains it all, so every night i feed him 1 Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers, and of course he eats the algae, but at this point there isn't too much algae. But i'am not sure if he gets the sinking wafers, because i come back and their gone, but i also have cichlids, that lots of times i drop it in there and they take them before it even hits the ground.
So i'am not sure if "roger" is even getting any of the sinking wafers, and he's a baby and the correct amount of food is vital in his survival.
How can i tell or be sure that he eats them?

 

[PlecoCollector]

Try feeding him a few minutes before turning out the tank light. Turn it off, and leave the room for about 5 minutes. When you come back in, turn on a smaller light that isn't too direct to the tank and you should be able to see if he's eating or not. I always catch mine munching on wafers that way. I break my wafers up so my plecos can get to them while my other fish munch on other pieces.
If you're really concerned, try feeding him some zuchinni, since it takes longer to be eaten. Throwing in another half a wafer wouldn't hurt either.

 

[fishkid64]

Alright this is getting rediculous, i dropped a wafer in came back in about 3-5 minutes, and watched my cichlids fight for it, even after the light was off. I then took another and broke it in half, sure enought, those greedy suckers, came back and ate it again, every little piece.
Im scared for my pleco, i looked at his belly, and he was looking kinda thin, im afraid roger isn't going to make it very long and he's only a kid!

 

[PlecoCollector]

Did you try the zuchinni? My other fish nipped at that, but didn't really take too much interest. It took a few hours for my plec to find it, but then he wouldn't leave it alone. It may also work to feed the cichlids at the same time as the pleco, so they're slightly distracted.

Just had another thought: Do you have any pieces of driftwood in your tank? If you have driftwood, your pleco will find it and usually hang out there. Extra algea grows on driftwood and plecs love to much on it as well as the wood.

 

[Pure]

Fishkid, You need to make sure the room is totally dark when you feed the pleco. By your statement that they ate the tab after lights out tells me the room had light in it. Cichlids do not see in the dark. IME fish still have no problems seeing if the room the tank is in has light. Light from a TV is normally enough for them to be able to see.

Sure they may be able to smell it and 1 or 2 may get lucky and find it, but you greatly increase your chances that the plec gets some food by having the room dark. Just feed him as your going off to bed.

 

[Fishchaser]

i would get rid of the pleco untill you get more algea then you save yourself all that trouble thats wat i did and it worked

 

[fishkid64]

What about other green foods, like celery, lettus, cucumbers?
Could i feed roger some of those too?

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

 

[Fishchaser]

yep allof them will work i would guess

 

[fishkid64]

alright thanks, i will see what i have, how do you make them sink though, and stay at the bottom?

BTW i like your avatar!

 

[Fishchaser]

thx umm i think you can get clips that hang on the glass or the bottom

 

[fishkid64]

alright, i got my pleco about 1 week ago, and he's only about 2 3/4 to 3 inches, and usually Ple*co's fins are up, but all the time it looks like his fins are folded back, is this normal, or where they just nibbled off, because the tank i bought him at had about 10 baby pleco's like this in it.

is this because he's so young, or are they just gone?

I will post a pic in a little

 

[PlecoCollector]

With the vegetables: Put them in boiling water for a few minutes and place them in the tank when they're cool. They'll sink
My plecs always have their fins folded unless they're swimming. They'll usually open and close them when eating

 

[fishkid64]

thank you so much!

 

[PlecoCollector]

You're welcome I hope all goes will with your little plec!