Tricks To Get My Plec Some Food!

[Rynofasho]

So with a tank full of fat, FAT Danios and 6 Cory cats running around, my brand new BN Plec hasn't really had a chance to get to the algae wafers I drop in there.

She is still pretty shy, as well, so I can't really get close to her and drop the wafer, and I don't really have an algae in my tank so I'm not sure what she will be eating.

I'm not really panicked or anything, but does anyone have any tricks or methods of feeding them that might thwart my other little chubby fellas from getting there first?

I'm going to grab some zucchini and a clip tonite to try to give her a suspended piece and at least maybe keep the Corys at bay. Thanks!

 

[james_fish]

Feed her at night when the lights are out and the Danio's are sleepy

James.

 

[simonas]

if you put the algae wafer at about lights out your plec should get the benefit of it. I;d be surprised if the danios really took any and thecorys will go for it but a bristlenose should take over and keep the wafer to himself.

Try it lateat night andsee if you notice a difference, A bristlenose is oneof the less shy plecs

 

[Ben M]

veggies are a good idea as well. And they have the added bonus that corys can't finish them off in 30 seconds!

cheers

 

[Aqua Tom]

Get a clear piece of plastic tube. Put one end in the water in front of her nose, drop the wafer in from the other end. That way she sees it coming but the other fish cant get to it.

 

[Rynofasho]

Alright, I'll try some of these tricks! You wouldn't think the other fish would be terribly interested in an algae wafer but dang are they ever! When I first dropped it in, all 5 Danios and 4 of 6 Corys were swarming it and tearing it to bits!

If I can make it to the store, I'll try a veggie treat tonite and if not, I'll feed her at lights out. I guess I won't know if she got it really, but I'll hope for the best!

 

[james_fish]

Alright, I'll try some of these tricks! You wouldn't think the other fish would be terribly interested in an algae wafer but dang are they ever! When I first dropped it in, all 5 Danios and 4 of 6 Corys were swarming it and tearing it to bits!

If I can make it to the store, I'll try a veggie treat tonite and if not, I'll feed her at lights out. I guess I won't know if she got it really, but I'll hope for the best!

I had a similar situation with my 8 Buenos Aires Tetra's. The wafers I fed were small and light so they didn't reach the sand for my L202 pleco. Because the BA's were so fast and there were 8 the wafers were literally being hit around like a volleyball. You ever seen seagulls fight over bread and chase each other, and when one drops it another scoops it quick? Thats what it's like! It's actually quite comical to watch, I still do it purposely

But I now also have some bigger heavier wafers which reach the floor, anything still going at it then soon gets fended off by the pleco
But like I said, try it during lights out as a lot of Catfish are nocturnal.

James.

 

[Aqua Tom]

How about growing some algea for the plec?

get some stones,

chuck em in a clear container,

cover em with tank water,

leave on a sunny windowsill for a while,

hey-presto, algea covered stones,

just pop one in the tank every now & then

when it has been eaten, fish it out pop it back in the jug & chuck another one in there


Roberts your mothers brother

 

[Rynofasho]

Alright, Zucchini overnight was not touched.

My issue isn't that the wafers don't hit the bottom, it's that everyone in the tank is a little piggy and they were all devouring it, even though it was an algae wafer.

Considering the fact that I now actually see big long pieces of fish poo in the aquarium, I would assume the plec is eating, I'm just not sure what / how much. I'll throw a wafer in tonite after lights out and hopefully she will actually get to try it this time If not, its time to try your algae trick.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

If she has a hiding place put the wafers in there. With my pleco, we sometimes put the food direct into his boat so that no one else can eat it; however mine comes out all the time now.

 

[Rynofasho]

She finally latched on to a wafer it looks like! Tried Zucchini again to no avail.

Last question is how often should I plunk a wafer in there? Every other day?

 

[Aqua Tom]

If she has a hiding place put the wafers in there. With my pleco, we sometimes put the food direct into his boat so that no one else can eat it; however mine comes out all the time now.

You have a fish with its own boat? Does he wear some kind of reverse scuba gear to use it?