Sinking Wafers

[fishkid64]

Hey, I have a new common ple*co, and he's only about 3 inches long. I was wondering what i should feed him besides just the algae that grows, in the tank. Cuz every other ple*co I had died within about 6 month's i'am wondering what i am doing wrong. I used to not feed them anything besides the algae. I know have a free pack of Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers, and i was wondering if i should feed him some of these, and how many? I gave him one today, and when i came back in about an hour it was gone. But i also have a Red-Tail Shark so i don't know if he ate it or if the Ple*co ate it.
So basically i want to know if i should feed him some of these everyday, and about how many?

Thanks so much!

 

[TLM4x4]

Well for a pleco that size I would say feed him a half a wafer yes everyday...they CANT live off of algae especially if there isnt much in your tank..they also eat shrimp pellets. Not sure about the commons but bristlenose plecos also eat bloodworms, and tubeaflex worms. The one you had that died probably starved to death. Good luck with the new one.

 

[brit_s86]

I used too feed my pleco those wafers.worked good.

 

[prettypleco]

They also like fresh veggies. Shelled peas, zucchini, cukes, yams. Variety wafers and sinking wafers as well. Put the food in at night as they are nocturnal. Be sure to remove any leftover food in the AM especially the veggies as they will foul your water.

 

[Lotus]

I'd say 1/2 or 1/4 wafer every two or three days.

 

[cybersymes]

my guy gets half a wafer every night...
they are small sinking discs...
and a 1 inch cucumber slice[halved]...
once a week...weighted down with a washer...
[scrape the seeds out of the 'cumber]...
again...feed at night...

 

[Pure]

I agree with all that has been said. Just want to add, if you are worried about him getting enough food, try and get a good look at his belly any time you see him on the glass. A malnourished pleco will have an obviously sunken in stomach. It should be nice and round. You may even need to pull him to get a good look if you haven't seen him on the glass after a couple of weeks. When he becomes severely malnourished his eyes will start to look sunken in.

 

[PlecoCollector]

I have three plecos in my one tank and they get about 1 1/2 sinking wafers a night. If you have another fish in there you think is eating it, break it up in a smaller pieces. I usually drop fourths into my tank, since my cories and the other fish munch on them too. That way, the Plecs can get their share without fighting
I do highly recommend some veggies for him too. It's fun to watch them eat it!

 

[samathena@hotma]

pleco food

hi all. i was gifted 2ft tank(now a very busy guppy fry tank)and my 4ft community tank,i have 2 plecos1about 4inches and the other about 6ins.im clueless so im not sure what type they are but they are both the same,choc brown with a gold leopard effect on them.they have hiding places but swim around in plain veiw during the day.i feed with frozen blood worm,high fibre granules and flake.my plecos aet everything and seem healthyive had them nearly a year with no problems.the q is do they need additional food and if so are wafers best?oh i give cucumber too.thanks. sam x