Plecoes Are Poop Machines

[TallTree01]

So I'm always seeing this ' Plecoes poo a lot! They have a lot of biomass ' .
What I don't get is, how are they bigger poopers than other fish?
I mean, isn't the amount of poop dictated by what they eat? If you feed them less, they poop less surely.
So why are Plecos poop machines?

 

[sawickib]

I think its related to what the eat as well, similar to oscars and puffer fish, also they constantly poop so they may have something to do with it.

 

[fluttermoth]

It's because they're herbivores.
 
Fairly obviously, animals have digestive systems that are adapted for their diet. It wouldn't do a cheetah much good to have the gut of a gazelle
 
Most plecs have evolved to eat a relatively 'poor' diet, made up of lots of bulky fibre. That means a lot more of their diet is 'useless', from a nutritional point of view, so there's a lot more wastage, meaning more poo.
 
Sure, if you feed less, of a richer food, you'll get less poo but, as that's not what they have evolved to digest, it could lead to potential health problems.