PlanetCatfish.com

Hi -

I am wondering if there is some kind of guideline on the amount to feed a Pleco? I have a 3.5" L200 and a fried has a 4" Common Pleco, Pterygoplichthys pardalis, she's curious about as well.

Thanks in advance.

I am currently feeding my L200 (3.5") 1, or 2 if they are the really small ones, Hikari sinking wafer or tablets for bottom feeders daily. He ignores zuchinni completely but I will see him rasping on the sides of the tank (no visable algae however). He will also get any reminants from the Firemouth or 3 Green Swordtails - I doubt very much that much if any is getting to him with those 3 livebearers however. Should I increase his feeding then or change/add to it?

**please note that the post you linked me to did help with number of feedings but I did not really learn much in the actual amounts.

My friends 4" Common Pleco is fed a 1/4" slice of blanched zuchinni daily (which he consumes within the day) and then ever couple days fed 1/2 an algae wafer. Suggestion on this?

I so appreciate any and all help as both of us are new to keeping Plecos and want to provide what's best for them.

Mrufins,

If he ignores zucchini, maybe you would want to try some other foods. I've given my bristlenoses, Clown Pleco's , Gold Nugget and Candy stripe pleco the following foods:
- Zucchini (raw & blanched)
- Sweet potato
- Melon (honey dew & canteloupe)
- Potato (raw & skin from baked)
- Peas
- Mange toute (sugarsnap peas ??, cooked)
- Cucumber
- Brussel sprout (cooked)
- Broccoli stem (cooked)
- Carrot (frozen)
- Frozen bloodworms
- Frozen daphnia

Specifically for Baryancsitrus and Peckoltia:
- Chopped mussels
- Chopped prawns

I've also heard of people feeding the following:
- Tomato
- Orange
- Spinage
- Lettuce

I also suspect that most other vegetables that you could think of would be possible to feed too. Just try whatever veg you get leftover from feeding yourselves...

Some fish will go for all of the above and others will eat only the bits that they fancy, so trying a few different things will help select a food that your fish will like.

At 4" I would think that the pleco would eat zucchini raw. Try it and see. Saves a small step in preparation...

I hope this helps [and reminds me that I still need to do some more work on my article on the subject...]
--
Mats

Thank you so much Mats, that does help me and I will pass along the information to my friend with the Common Pleco as well.

I look forward to reading your article.

L-147 seems to go crazy for chopped spinach(frozen in the box-cheap, simple).

Awesome, we'll give it a try. Thank you.