CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

New to the forum, but have learned alot browsing... Quick question. . .

I've got a ten gallon tank which is just putting me on until the end of the month when I move. After moving I plan on getting a bigger (75 gal) set-up.

Right now I've got two Silver Dollars, two Cory cats and a pair of lemon tetras (who will be in a different tank when we move.)
I had a Common pleco for some time who quite happily sucked the glass until one day he up and died. Was my tank too clean? I just replaced the pleco since I really liked that fish, but I'm worried I need to supplement his food.

Other than the natural Algae in the tank what should I be feeding the pleco. I read cucumber and boiled lettuce. any other suggestions?

Everything in the tank is pretty small right now. But growing too fast to keep where they are.

Thanks!

There are also sinking disks food pelets for them. I have read of one of our members who use's sliced zuchine, tied to a rock on the bottom of the tank as well. I would think His/Her death was natural, not from starvation, unless he was very large, and in a very clean tank.

Thanks for the advice, I've purchased algae flakes[edit -- discs], though they don't seem to be getting eaten, (too many)

I have a somewhat grosser question. When people say that plecos are messy fish, what exactly do they mean? I think I have an idea. . . For instance, the new pleco in my tank (10 G - small pleco) chowed down on my somewhat neglected tank walls. They are now pristine. I was worried about the ammount of fish poo, namley the string of it hanging off of him at any given time. I've never seen a fish not be able to let it go before. Otherwise S/he happily hangs out in a carved rock. I assume it has just overeaten. . . should I worry.

Richard

Nothing to worry about, it seems to be a common occurance with pleco's. I am not sure might have something to do with the chemistry of what they eat. ie algey, it self is stringy....lol. Anyway, I have seen pleco's with pretty long "streamers" so not to worry. A word on the disk, don;t add to many, just one, and remove it if the pleco ignores it. It can just add more to the ammo/nitrite/nitrates, so more water changes. They like caves or place's to hide under, plants ect, nothing wrong with a well fed pleco, they sure can keep the tank walls, and decorations clean.

Thanks, I think the corries are also eating the algae discs, the ones i put in are gone now, but I stuck to your advice to only put one in at a time to make sure they don't stick around. Thanks again for your help.

R

when feeding your pleco, do it at nite. As for the food, I use Zuccini rubberbanded to a flat rock. "yea it is me" not cucumbers. Cut it in half then cut one piece length wise. Do not peel it.. Boiled lettice makes a mess in your tank and the fish eat it before the pleco can have a chance. When you turn the lights off at night just drop 1 to 2 aglae tabs in. I feed the Zuccini every 3-4 days. net it out when they eat it down to the skin or it will deteriate in the water.

The common pleco is not a fussy eater. It can eat almost any kind of sinking pellets, i've even hear of how people get them to eat floating pellets and handfeeding them. For me, its usually pellets, frozen bloodworms, and occasionally cucumbers.