Albino Pleco not eating.

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

Do I have had this guy for about 4 day now and I can not say I have seen him eat anything other then the algae in the tank I have left him sliced cucumber over night in the tank and it has remained non eaten ever night

 

[HN1]

It may not yet recognize the cuc as food (not that nutritional either). It will once it is hungry enough though. Experiment with algae wafers, spinach, green beans, etc.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Try different foods. Mine took a while to realize different things where food. I feed mine peas, beans, shrimp pellets, algae wafers, bloodworms and brine shrimp.

 

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

What kind of beans?

 

[Mumma.of.two]

What kind of beans?

Normal green beans either from a can or fresh and blanched. They LOVE them.

 

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

Sounds great THANKS!

 

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

Do you have a picture of yours?

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Do you have a picture of yours?

Sure do! This is one of my albinos. He only started growing bristles about two months ago. He's about 3 inches give or take.

 

[adadkins1]

I have to say my BNP hasn't ever been too fond of anything except algae in my tank and the occasional algae wafer. I will put in some lettuce or cuc and he just ignores it.

 

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

See that is my problem as well.... I really am trying to figure this out

 

[adadkins1]

I wouldn't worry. My pleco is still living even though he doesn't really eat any supplumental veggies. Just feed him a piece of algae pellet every other night or so.

You may keep trying different vegetables until you find one he likes.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

How big are they? I found when mine where about an inch they only wanted to eat algae and wafers but when they got bigger started eating anything I offered.

 

[adadkins1]

Mine is a good 3" or so.

 

[reefdiver]

Try zucchini.

 

[CatmanDru]

Do I have had this guy for about 4 day now and I can not say I have seen him eat anything other then the algae in the tank I have left him sliced cucumber over night in the tank and it has remained non eaten ever night

Have you tried "algae wafers"?

Does anyone know what commercial breeders would likely feed young plecos? Whatever food he was fed by the breeders would be "normal food" for him and would be what he would be used to eating.

 

[jetajockey]

Have you tried "algae wafers"?

Does anyone know what commercial breeders would likely feed young plecos? Whatever food he was fed by the breeders would be "normal food" for him and would be what he would be used to eating.

Yep, try French cut green beans straight from the can.

 

[got-to-love-Chiclids]

How big are they? I found when mine where about an inch they only wanted to eat algae and wafers but when they got bigger started eating anything I offered.

He is about an inch. Here is a pic of the little guy.

 

[CatmanDru]

Yep, try French cut green beans straight from the can.

Is that what breeders feed plecos?

 

[jetajockey]

That's what some breeders/farm people feed them. I've had a few groups of plecos come in that were really picky and not eating and after asking around I've always gotten that answer. It's worth a shot.

 

[CatmanDru]

That's what some breeders/farm people feed them. I've had a few groups of plecos come in that were really picky and not eating and after asking around I've always gotten that answer. It's worth a shot.

Thank you. Honestly, that's not the food I would have expected, but I guess it makes sense for a breeder: cheap, easy, fairly nutritious...

Jetajockey, did canned french cut green beans work for your finicky-eater plecos?

Maybe that will help the OP and others.

So got-to-love-Chiclids, and others with picky-eater plecos, try French-cut green beans straight from the can.