Should I give my pleco a live plant?

[jaylach]

I have a small 20 gallon cube tank that has artificial plants. I also have a common pleco that needs a home as it will outgrow the tank sooner than later. Not my fault as I inherited the critter without a lot of choice...

Since I MUST have a pleco... nor for tank health but I just love the body type... I'm thinking about a zebra pleco but wonder about feeding. With the current pleco I'm feeding pieces of algae wafers and he is doing fine. Still he keeps trying to eat the artificial plants in the tank. Would it be beneficial for a pleco to add one broad leaf live plant for it to destroy? I mean when the plant becomes a skeleton just replace...

 

[FishNturt808]

He’s probably eating the algae off the artificial plant. Not the plant itself. Zebra plecos have a different diet than algae eating plecos. More protein and wood based from what I’ve looked up online.

 

[jaylach]

He’s probably eating the algae off the artificial plant. Not the plant itself. Zebra plecos have a different diet than algae eating plecos. More protein and wood based from what I’ve looked up online.

While another forum seems to think my pleco is a tiger myself and others here think it is a common. I don't currently have a zebra but would love to have.

I did a quick search on buying a zebra and was shocked! I had no idea that they were considered in danger and protected in the wild although they can be purchased as tank bred. I only checked one seller and they wanted $279.00 with zero guarantee of a live arrival. Sounds sort like a scam to me... And you are correct on the diet for a zebra pleco as brine shrimp and blood worms are considered good.

As to the current pleco I don't think the tank has been active long enough for algae to be forming on the fake leaves. The tank is like a month old at most although it does have full spectrum lighting.

 

[itiwhetu]

Why not, but give him some driftwood as well.