feeding the common pleco

So i thought it would be nice to offer my pleco a variety of foods, i mean, he is thriving on the algae in the tank and wafers every night... but i heard they like veggies like cucumber and zuchinni. I boiled the cucumber for a little bit, just long enough so that it would sink when i dropped it in the water. But so far he hasn't touched it, and usually he goes right to the wafers. I know they are nightime feeders so im gonna leave it in overnight, but is there a certain way i should've prepared it? Any other suggestions for feeding him?

[Meredith]

I usually just pop a slice of cucumber or zuch into a small glass of water and put it in the microwave for 10 or twenty seconds, then rinse with cold water. It wont sink this way, so I rubber band it to a rock. I usually have to leave mine in overnight before my plec will touch it. A favorite of his (thawed) frozen peas (minus the shell) He pounces on those, though I worry about what might happen if and when he gets big enough to put the whole thing in his mouth Something else to try is thawed spinach. I just put a chunk of frozen spinach in a cup of warm water. Then gently gather the larger pieces and attach to a veggie clip. My pleco used to LOVE broccoli stalks, but I think I fed them so much he is burned out. He wont touch them now.
Don't be afraid to experiment. Good luck to you

he found it! man he's goin to town on that thing!

[Fishyfanatic]

Make sure it's not overcooked. I personally don't cook the vegs before adding them to the tank (except for blanching the peas in the microwave for 20 seconds), it keeps them more intact as they eat. I did that once with a zuc and part of it broke off and floated across the tank and wasn't eaten off after that happened. A way to keep it in place in the tank is to get a Veg clip from the [acronym:ee187a5fac="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:ee187a5fac] or Wal-Mart. They are relatively cheap and last for quite a while. I got mine for $2 each and have had them since December. The pleco's go to TOWN on vegs. It's fun to watch them eat.

[Ariamus]

I saw something mildly amusing just a little while ago with one of my Plecos. It was hanging upside down off of the "top" of a cave I have set up in my 30g aquarium. It was pretty amusing. In fact, how much I enjoy the antics of my plecos, algae eaters, and corys worries me a bit. Why do I like "bottom feeders" so much?

should i leave the skin on the cucumber? will they eat that too? or should i skin all the veggies i put in... he got kinda bored with the cucumber.

[Fishyfanatic]

I only remove the skin from the peas. The skin helps keep the cucumber and zuc together. They will eventually eat straight through the skin. Make sure you clean it very well with tap water before adding to the tank. That reminds me, I need to pick up a zuc tomorrow.

[QTOFFER]

Originally Posted by Meredith

My pleco used to LOVE broccoli stalks, but I think I fed them so much he is burned out. He wont touch them now.

You know, the same thing is going on with my ancistrus plecs. They used to go nuts for broccoli, but now it just sits there uneaten. I've been experimenting with shelled peas, lima beans, and yellow squash - all nuked on a damp paper towel for a few seconds.

[An t-iasg]

I have pictures in my gallery of my pleco eating broccoli and zucchini. My pleco liked baby spinach leaves too. I only bought one at a time, since they wouldn't last long in the frig. The cashier would give me a strange look as she tried to weigh one little leaf!

Ariamus, what kind of pleco do you have? I really enjoyed watching my pleco too. I miss him.