Driftwood for Bristlenose Pleco?

[shaloric7]

Does a bristlenose pleco require driftwood to survive, or can they get by on algae wafers? If they do need driftwood, where can you get it?

Thanks!

 

[sixtyfou]

I read that they need it. That's why I got some.

 

[Khuligirl93]

Although I'm sure it is better for their health to have driftwood, I had 2 of them for about a year with no real driftwood and they were fine living off of tank algae and wafers. You can get mopani or Malaysian driftwood from drsfostersmith.com for a very good price though.

 

[pip walters]

I buy babies from a lady who has no driftwood in her tank.

Good quality algae wafers will contain some wood material. Check what's available in your home country.

 

[flitabout]

They can live without it but they prefer to have it. If you are on a budget you can get some Mopani dw from Petco fairly cheaply. I got a really nice big piece for $10. you can get them online if you don't have 1 close. You can also get different types on Amazon and ebay.

 

[Fishninja]

I recommend aquabid for driftwood too

 

[sixtyfou]

I've been wondering if I over did the boiling on the drift wood I bought. The pleco likes it, but he doesn't love it the way I expected.

 

[Delapool]

I've been wondering if I over did the boiling on the drift wood I bought. The pleco likes it, but he doesn't love it the way I expected.

I found they were always on it at the start but now spend most time in their caves. No idea why unless it was the change to better quality wafers.

 

[Abiduwhabi]

The driftwood is to help with their digestive tract. While people do have them with out driftwood, I would recommend it.

 

[Stewy]

Not to hijack your thread...but does the type of driftwood matter? I just picked up some manzanita.

 

[flitabout]

Nope doesn't matter.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Can you get your hands on Sera Catfish Chips? It's a food for plecos that contains 2 or 3 kinds of wood pulp that are beneficial to the pleco.

You should feed bristlenose more than just algae wafers. I feed a good quality algae wafer, zuchini, and (less frequently) shrimp pellets and frozen mysis shrimp.

 

[Sauroposeidon]

They need driftwood. It aids in digestion and mimics their natural environment. The softer the wood the better. Mopani is very dense (too dense in my opinion) for plecos. I use Malaysian. It splinters, and I see fragments every now and then, but my bristlenose stays on it constantly. I'm not sure about other woods, but wood is wood.