Feeding your pleco: a comprehensive guide

[fineman]

I give my plecos algae wafers now and then. They've also got driftwood in the tank to gnaw on. Occasionally, I'll drop in some shrimp pellets, but I've never seen the plecos touch them. I'm thinking of adding zucchini to the mix, but using a fork to weigh it down is a hassle. You'd think there'd be a simple, weighted clip to keep it flat on the bottom.

What do you guys use to hold veggies down for your plecos? I'm surprised no one's come up with a decent solution yet. Maybe I'll have to design my own angled clip and sell it online.

[willie32]

I've come across people using a stainless steel spring-like contraption that basically screws into the veggies, and the fish just eat around it - seems like a pretty straightforward solution.

[sSjey]

I was thinking the same thing - a screwcumber. It's a pretty simple idea, and I'm surprised it's not more widely used. A stainless steel spring that screws into the veg, holding it in place while the plecos munch away. It's genius. I'll have to look into getting one of those.

[willie32]

I was thinking the same thing - a screwcumber. It's a pretty simple idea, and I'm surprised it's not more widely used. A stainless steel spring that screws into the veg, holding it in place while the plecos munch away. It's genius. I'll have to look into getting one of those.

I was just going to say that's what I needed. Never knew it was called a screwcumber.

[jaguar]

I discovered that slicing it into rounds instead of lengthwise helps it stay down pretty well, so I never really bothered with using a fork or any other method to hold it in place.

[TwinTankman]

I've found that microwaving zucchini on defrost for a bit works well. It's similar to blanching in boiling water, but much easier. You'll likely need to experiment with a few slices to get the timing just right. When you take it out, it'll be warm, which means it'll float. To get the temperature down, I submerge it in a clean container of cold water - a juice glass works perfectly. If the slice sinks, it's ready to go into the tank.

I'm assuming you've identified your pleco as one that'll eat zucchini. I work with Hypancistrus, and they love neat foods, but I've never fed them zucchini. I did feed it to my bristlenose, though. Initially, I used veggie clips that attached to the tank glass with a suction cup. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can find ones with magnetic attachments. Just search for "veggie clip" online, and you'll find a variety of brands.

[fineman]

When I used the suction cupped clips on the glass side, my bristlenose plecos were able to eat the zucchini just fine.

[fineman]

I'm considering adding some variety to my plecos' diet, and I was wondering if they can eat apple slices.

[sidthy]

I'd recommend skipping the blanching step. Most fish prefer their veggies fresh, while others like them soft - it's all about the taste. Just add it to the tank as is and let the fish eat at their own pace. The veg will soften up in the water over time anyway.

[Lexat]

I've had the same issue with keeping zucchini submerged. Lately, I've been using a pretty simple method that's worked for me - I just skewer the zucchini into the edges of my driftwood. It's not a perfect solution, but it does the trick. I like that it doesn't require adding any extra items to the tank to weigh it down. If you've got some stacked driftwood or pieces that are close together, you can try jamming a slice in between them - that's worked for me too.