Cory & pleco questions

[earhtmother]

I have always used a pleco as my bottom cleaner but lately I have noticed missing smaller fish in some of my tanks & I am starting to think the pleco has been snacking ? I knew they would eat dead fish but I didn't think they would actively hunt. Since I am starting a shrimp only tank I am thinking I will use some cories as the ground cleaning crew if they will leave the shrimp alone. Any thoughts from those more experienced fishy people

 

[BBradbury]

I have always used a pleco as my bottom cleaner but lately I have noticed missing smaller fish in some of my tanks & I am starting to think the pleco has been snacking �� I knew they would eat dead fish but I didn't think they would actively hunt. Since I am starting a shrimp only tank I am thinking I will use some cories as the ground cleaning crew if they will leave the shrimp alone. Any thoughts from those more experienced fishy people

Hello ear...

If a fish is smaller than the mouth of a larger fish, there's potential for the small fish to be lunch. The best thing to do is feed all the fish a little more and more often. A well fed larger fish is less likely to be on the hunt for a snack.

B

 

[t-bone]

My pleco is always hungry. Do you feed food specifically for the pleco? I use various sinking wafers and pellets. She tears it up. She knows when it is feeding time too.

 

[Dallascowboys16]

A pleco will not hunt actively. I think this is a case of your fish dying and your pleco cleaning it up. They're scavengers, not predators. If I were you I would check the water parameters to see if anything is out of whack that would be killing your small fish.