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Do plecos need special food?
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While Plecos do eat detritus and algae, it will still need its diet supplemented. Feed your Pleco every day or every other day with Pleco-specific food. One to two times per week, feed your Pleco pieces of cucumber, zucchini, or lettuce (not iceberg).
Omnivorous plecos offer the most dietary options because they can eat just about anything that other omnivorous fish would eat. Fish food, algae wafers, carnivore pellets, thawed frozen foods, insects, and shrimp can all be on the menu for omnivorous plecos.
How do you keep plecos alive?
Plecostomus Water Requirements
A pH between 7.0 and 8.0, alkalinity between 3° and 10° dKH (54 ppm to 180 ppm) and temperature between 74° and 80° F will suffice for most captive bred species. If the aquarium is kept in a room below 74°, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain the proper temperature.
First and foremost, most plecos are not natural algae eaters. They’re instead omnivores, and they eat what is termed aufwuch. This is a mixture of algae growing on surfaces (periphyton), insect larvae, and other aquatic organisms.
Do plecos need special food? – Related Questions
What makes plecos happy?
How long does a pleco live?
Males guard eggs. Plecostomus are primarily nocturnal and will spend daytime hours resting along the benthos in dark crevices. The average lifespan for plecostomus is 10 to 15 years.
Do plecos clean your tank?
Keeping an aquarium looking clean and free of algae is most often an ongoing battle. You may even have searched for fish that clean the tank. In freshwater aquariums, “Plecos” (short for plecostomus and used to refer to fish of the family Loricariidae) are one of the most common fish purchased to aid in algae cleanup.
What do plecos need in a tank?
They prefer a heated aquarium around 74 to 80°F (23 to 27°C), and they can live a broad pH range of 6.5 to 7.8. Since most plecos are nocturnal, they greatly appreciate any hides or cover you provide to keep them out of the light.
Can you put 2 plecos in the same tank?
“No” to Multiple Plecos Together
They often do wonderfully alongside other types of community freshwater fish. When plecos reach maturity, they simply cannot get along with fellow plecos. They can be highly territorial around each other. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous ever to house them together.
What fish Cannot live with plecos?
Fish like Discus, Gouramis, and Goldfish should not be kept with larger Plecostomus.
The body shape of a pleco can help a fishkeeper determine the fish’s sex. This works best from a top view. Females generally have a more rounded body, while males are generally skinnier. When viewed from the side, females have a more rounded abdomen, which is longer in relation to the rest of the body.
Do plecos need lots of space?
Adult Common Plecos need a tank size of 75 to 80 gallons at the very minimum. However, to help your fish reach its full size and potential you’ll need at least 150 gallons! Larger is always better with the Common Pleco.
Do plecos like sand or gravel?
The ideal substrate for plecos is fine gravel or soft sand because it will allow the pleco to filter through the substrate to find food. The tank should be densely planted, especially with broad-leafed species like Java Fern and Anubias, to ensure that the pleco can feed on algae growing on the surface of the leaves.
Do plecos need clean water?
What is this? Plecos are well known for their ability to consume large quantities of algae. However, they also generate a fair amount of waste, often more than they consume. This means having to clean your filters, pumps, and overall pond more frequently.
Are pleco easy to keep?
Also known as the Bushy nose Pleco, these easy to care for tropical freshwater fish are perfect for beginner aquarists and advanced aquarists alike. Most commonly found in the Amazon river basin of South America, the Bristlenose Pleco is a hardy fish that can survive and thrive in a variety of different habitats.
An adult common pleco requires a 150-gallon tank, minimum. However, as juveniles, they can be kept in smaller aquariums as long as there is a plan in place to move them as they get bigger. Consider at least a 55-gallon tank to allow a young pleco room to grow.
How big do plecos get?
Pleco catfish (Plecostomus) can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) in size. However, it takes a long period of time for them to grow this big. For such fish, you need special conditions, especially if you keep them in an aquarium.
Do plecos need algae to survive?
Plecos are algae-eaters, but your home aquarium won’t provide enough algae to keep your pleco full. You’ll need to feed plecos algae wafers too. Plecos are omnivores, so you can also feed them meat, like shrimp and bloodworms, as well as vegetables including zucchini and kale.
What is the best pleco food?
5 Best Pleco Foods Reviewed
Omega One Veggie Rounds. Omega One Veggie Rounds contain high-quality ingredients that make them an excellent choice for most plecos.
Northfin Kelp Wafers.
New Life Spectrum Algaemax Wafers.
Repashy Morning Wood.
Repashy Soilent Green.
Can plecos live in tap water?
Most tap water has chlorine in it, which can be harmful to your pleco. You can also make your own using a dechlorinator or purchase it at a pet store. Chlorine can cause chemical burns, stress, or excess ammonia for your fish and their tank.