Are Plecs Carnivorous ?

[langy]

I've just noticed my 4" plec having a good ole 'suck' on a dearly departed little fish (still don't know the makes and models yet ) Just as well really cos i hadn't noticed that he was missing
Anyway, i had a feeling Plec were herbivores ! is this correct ? if not then i've learnt something today

 

[clareriley]

I've just noticed my 4" plec having a good ole 'suck' on a dearly departed little fish (still don't know the makes and models yet ) Just as well really cos i hadn't noticed that he was missing
Anyway, i had a feeling Plec were herbivores ! is this correct ? if not then i've learnt something today

I have no idea.. but I have known a plec and clowns making a quick meal about of the dead before and this was in a fs..

 

[Cheese Specialist]

There are many species of plecs and some eat meaty food and some don't. I think the majority will if given the chance.

 

[Nevergone815]

plecs are really good "clean up crews". they eat algae and left over food. they will even eat a dead fish from time to time. they are scavengers if you will and will anything. i have heard of this happening many times and have seen it also. other fish will peck at a dead fish too. just for the free meal!

i don't know exactly why they do it... but i do know that they do it! its completely normal so don't worry

 

[pica_nuttalli]

heh, yes and no. seeing as there are literally thousands of species classified as "plecs", it's no surprise that:

* some are carnivorous
* some are omnivorous
* some are herbivorous

 

[nmonks]

Moreover, some should not be allowed to eat meat. I've been told by scientists working with Panaque that high protein diets are bad for them. I quote:

"Brazilian populations [of Panaque] do not live in general aquarium tanks so long (i.e. no more than 5 years) just because people feed too much calorie to them. All Brazilian specimens that died in aquarium tanks [that I have] dissected accumulate too much fat around all organs inside of the fish, and stomach are empty most of the time. I never seen [them in this condition] in the field [i.e., in the wild]. Just not a good idea to feed too much fish food or animal products to P. nigrolineatus."

My Panaque is at least 11 years old now, and she's perhaps eaten only a half a dozen small (40 g) bags of Hikari algae wafers in that entire time. All she gets is vegetables (courgette, celery, lettuce, etc.) and bogwood. In terms of protein, she's eaten about 6 small bags (40 grammes) of Hikari algae wafers in her entire life -- probably less than her body weight!

Most plecs are omnivores though, and will eat some algae and some invertebrates in the wild. Carrion may be a natural part of their diet in the wild, but in aquaria it is NEVER a good idea to let your fish eat something that has just died. Neon tetra disease is perhaps the best known example of a diseases transmitted primarily in this way, but there are lots of others.

Cheers,

Neale