Is My Bulldog Plec Getting Enough Food

[totaig]

I'm new to this, set up tank (110litre) 10 weeks ago using bacterial filter start and added 10 zebra danios, all doing well. Tank gets a bit of direct sunshine and started to see build up of algae. i added a 1-1.5in bulldog plec which made short work of the algea, doesn't sem much left to keep him going. I've been feeding plec algae tablets immediately after flake or tubifex in the hope of keeping the danios distracted but there always first to find the plec tabs. Had to upgrade my pump to fluval 3 ( aquired ancient fluval 2 with tank, it packed in and was probably too small) Pleco seems to be enjoying the increased current and is out and about more. Tonight he was only inches from plec tab which danios were devouring. he must have been well ware the tab was there and I guess being a bulldog he'd have waded in if he was hungry? Should I be concerned?

 

[Corleone]

Some fish don't like to eat around more active fish. Try some zucchini or cucumber. You don't need a fancy lettuce clip or vegetable weight, just stick a fork in it to hold it down. Leave it in overnight and he should be able to graze at his leisure without dealing with danios.

 

[Ficious]

i wouldnt worry about it. my bulldog plec (rubbernose) was very shy at first. he now feeds when i drop the shrimp and algae tabs in but seems very uneasy around everyone. hes very unpredictable during this time.

 

[Aussie_Dog]

Try more than once food source, at opposite sides of the tank. Hopefully, all the danios will hang out and feed on one wafer, and the Bulldog can have the other wafer to himself. Or you can put in a veggie at night so he can feed while the danios are sleeping (or finding it difficult to see where the food is, lol). If he has a preferred hangout that he always hides in, try to place food as near there as you can.

I have a Bulldog and two Bristlenoses, and the Bulldog is passionate about getting his way, so I don't worry about whether he's getting enough. If he wants a wafer or veggie, by God, he'll have that wafer or veggie. If another pleco was feeding, they'll have to find another wafer.

I have to note that he used to be shy, but once I added in a rock (Bulldogs love rocks in their natural habitat), he warmed up and is now less skittish. I used to only see him scurry past at the back of the tank (scared the hell out of me, since he was so big compared to the other fish and his quick scurrying motion and appearance reminded me of a skinned rat), but now I see him all the time. He must have gained some confidence the first few times he chased away any fish or pleco that dared rest on HIS rock. So try a nice smooth rock and see if he adopts it and gains some confidence.

 

[ChilliPepper]

My Bulldog was very shy in my old 60L tank, in fact I never saw him eat.
He has now been in my 190L about a month and has totally changed. He now comes out to feed on the pellets I drop in. Even with me and OH staring in at the tank and with the lights on. He just watches us with his beady eye and carries on He is a lot happier now because, as the tank is bigger, there are many hiding places dotted around so he knows he's got refuge close at hand wherever he is.

Maybe increase the number of hidey holes you have? My plec loves his rocks (put together to create a cave) and will also shelter under a piece of bogwood and in my two coconut caves. If he feels more secure he will probably come out to feed more often.

 

[totaig]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think a few more hidey holes might be in order. I did try cucumber and the center dissappeared overnight, not sure if that was down to the danios the plec or natural degredation? The rest of the cucumber seemed to breakdown naturally over the next 24 hours or was the plec at it when I wasn't about?