The pleco is a type of freshwater catfish that many people like to keep as a pet fish. They can definitely be very interesting fish to have in your aquarium.
If you’ve recently bought a pleco, then you’ll be well-served by learning more about them. For example, you’ll want to learn about how you’re supposed to feed them and take care of them.
How often are you supposed to feed a pleco fish? Do these fish need to be fed daily or can you wait longer than that?
Read on to get important information about these interesting fish. This will help you to feel confident that you’ll be able to care for the fish even if you’re a beginner.
How Often to Feed Plecos
Feeding plecos is something that you should do either daily or every other day. These fish are known for eating algae and detritus in an aquarium setting.
Despite this, you’re still going to need to feed the fish to ensure that it’s getting enough nutrients. It’s recommended to feed the pleco recommended foods either daily or every other day to keep them healthy.
Most enthusiasts also choose to give plecos special food once every week or so. They will feed them things such as zucchini, lettuce, and cucumber.
So long as you’re giving plecos enough food, they’ll be able to survive for quite some time. These are hardy fish that are going to be perfect for beginners who aren’t used to taking care of aquariums yet.
If you do a good job of feeding and caring for your pleco fish, then it will be able to live between 10 and 15 years. You’ll be able to look forward to having your pleco around for a long time.
When to Feed Plecos
One thing to know about plecos is that they’re nocturnal feeders. This means that you aren’t supposed to give them food during the day.
Instead, you should remember to feed the fish at night. It’s best to give them a few pinches of food just before you turn the tank lights off for the night.
You should have a pretty easy time getting on the right schedule. Just set an alarm and try to feed your fish around the same time each evening.
If necessary, you can feed them every other day, but most people think it’s best to feed them daily. It’d likely be easier to get into the habit of feeding the fish daily.
What to Feed Plecos
Now you might be wondering what plecos like to eat. You already know that they will eat algae, but they’ll also scavenge other types of food.
In the wild, it’s pretty common for plecos to eat both wood and plant matter. Some plecos seem to like eating wood more than plants.
They also commonly eat small insects in the wild. You could choose to feed your plecos small insects if you want to.
Generally, it’s recommended to ensure that the plecos in your aquarium have access to algae and plant matter. Depending on the type of pleco that you have, it might be important to have driftwood in the tank that the pleco can feed on.
When you feed the pleco fish each day, you’ll be feeding it various types of plant-based foods. Zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, shelled peas, and spinach are the common choices.
It’s also pretty common for people to feed plecos worms. Worms offer the plecos great nutrition and they easily sink to the bottom of the tank.
Recommended Tank Conditions
Of course, you have to take care of the tank conditions to keep the plecos healthy. For the most part, it’s going to be easy to keep the tank in good shape for these fish.
You want to keep the pH balance of the tank between 7.0 and 8.0. The temperature of the water should remain between 73 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s also imperative to give these fish a big enough aquarium. The minimum tank size should be 30 gallons, but most people go with larger tanks than that.
Some say that you should have a 100-gallon tank for plecos because they’ll be fairly large when they’re full-grown. Adult plecos can grow to be up to 24 inches long.
Ensure that you have a good filter for these fish. You want the tank to have a good flow, and a powerful filter will do a good job of keeping the tank clean.
Plecos produce a lot of waste, which will make the water dirty over time. A good filter helps to balance things and keep the water from getting too dirty.
To keep the fish happy, it’s recommended to place deep-rooted aquatic plants in the tank. It’s also good to have little caves in the aquarium that the fish will enjoy.
Are Plecos Good Community Fish?
Yes, plecos will be fantastic community tank fish to own. These fish are very peaceful and will not bother other fish in the aquarium.
Generally, you won’t have to worry about plecos becoming aggressive in a community tank. They have a good temperament that makes them a good fit in most freshwater community aquariums.
Sometimes, plecos will become a bit territorial when feeding and when breeding. However, you should know that this won’t really be a problem so long as you’re keeping the fish in a big enough tank.
Many fish are known to get along well with plecos. Gouramis are popular freshwater fish that will do well in a community tank with plecos.
Swordtails are another good option to consider. You can put plecos in a tank with mollies, guppies, platy fish, certain types of cichlids, and even some freshwater crabs.
Final Thoughts
Having learned a little bit about plecos, you’ll now be able to take care of them with greater confidence. You’ve learned how often these fish need to be fed as well as the types of things you should be feeding them.
You even learned about ideal tank conditions and how the fish can work well in a community tank setting. Plecos are great fish for beginners, and you shouldn’t hesitate to buy some if you’re interested.
They’re really good freshwater fish that won’t be stressful to care for. Enjoy your plecos and do your best to keep them healthy by following the advice above.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. I have a wife and two children and love taking them to the zoo to see all the animals. I grew up with dogs and fish and now have two dogs and two cats. I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.