a few pleco questions

[Amy]

1. How old do bristlenose plecos have to be to start showing bristles?

2. What is the main food source you all are feeding to your L134 plecos?

3. Anyone have a rubbernose pleco and what is your opinion about these guys? (question for a friend)

[MatsP]

1. Assuming it's the common variety, at around 2"/5cm in size, which takes around 3-8 months depending on conditions.

2. A good mixture of meaty and vegetarian food.

3. Prefer LOTS of current and slightly cooler water than your average fish. Can be territorial, but given the right conditions, they will breed.

--
Mats

[Matt30]

Hi Amy
Re-(2.) As Mats has said a good Mix of meats and vegetarian food.
I feed mine Cucumber/Potato/Hikari algae wafers /Hikari Carnivore Tablets
Hikari spirulina brine shrimp and Tetra prima.

[Amy]

Is that raw potato? Do you just peel it? Never used potato before.

Thanks for the replies

[Matt30]

Hi Amy yes I use raw potato but others may do things differently it might take
a few hours to soften up enough for your cat to have a munch on it though saying
that when I used to keep Bristlenose as soon as I dropped
a piece of potato in they would jump on it but my L134 will not touch it
for hours.
I just peel it leaving no skin on and put it in at
lights off and take it out in the morning you only need a
small piece and you don't need to worry about weighing
it down as it will sink.

[MatsP]

I use sweet potato quite a lot. Courgette.

I'll do some "self-promotion" - if you click on the link to "My articles" on the right of this post, there are two articles on feeding plecos.

The key to L134 is to try different things, and see what it likes, and keep varying the foods.

--
Mats

[Taratron]

I've found that my bristlenose go nuts for rinsed, canned green beans.

[Amy]

Thanks for the replies and tips.

I am just worried as I have not seen this pleco eat yet. I just got him a week ago tomorrow so he is still new to the tank. My BN love cucumber and I thought he would come out and eat it but does not seem to like it. I will try the zucchini as I know that is what the guy I bought him from feeds along with New Life Spectrum pellets. I have been giving a variety of foods just not zucchini as my BN did not seem to care for it when I offered it but I will try it again. Very interesting about the potatoes though and beans.

[Matt30]

Hi Amy re- not seeing your L134 eat don't worry to
much as he might just be eating at night just keep an eye
on his weight and give him time.

[exasperatus2002]

I use zucchini for my abn's. I tie it to my magnetic algae scraper and keep it down at the bottom. They also like raw shrimp.