Are Rubberlip plecos plant eaters?

[jsoong]

Ok, I've been blaming my goldies for the disappearing plants. I had a jungle of green hygro that disappeared overnight, and new growths that don't last more than a few days. Now I am finding chunks of leaves missing from the crypts & Java ferns.

I have been sneaking up on the tank to see who the guilty party was. <The goldies drop whatever they are doing if they see me & go straight to the feeding spot.> I've not seen any of the golds taking any interest in the plants. So that left me with suspect #2 - the rubberlip.

He is never out in the day, but it is possible that he is doing the dirty deed at night. <He certainly digs & uproot the Vals aroung his "cave".>

I thought that rubberlips are plant safe ... but maybe I was wrong. Anyone has any experience?

 

[mgamer20o0]

what are you feeding it? didnt know them to be but i am not a expert. maybe its a dietary problem.

 

[joy13]

I know when my bristlenose doesn't get enough to eat my hydro is on his menu. I found if I feed him broccoli a couple of times a week my plants are safe and the algae is pretty well kept away/ Mine is a glutton and will even eat sinking pellets I feed the cories.

 

[jsoong]

I don't specifically feed him anything .... he is supposed to eat algae & there is plenty of algae left in the back pane (which I never clean).

My goldies get veggies, but there is usually nothing left in the tank within an hour of feeding. Maybe I will try dropping in cukes or zucchini at night so the pleco can have first dips before the goldies wake up & devour everything!

 

[mgamer20o0]

there you go. most plecos dont really eat algae. even the ones that do still need to be feed. i would feed at night also. think about getting some algae wafers. plecos like veggies weigh some down at night for them. my bn eat peaches.