Feeding algae wafers

[Kane]

i just bought two pleco 2 days ago, one L030 and L047. i also bought the algae wafers food (Tropical Algae Wafers).

But i don't see them eating. by next day i always see the wafers seems to become spoil in the water. it's like bloated and have 'white wool' around that wafer.

so for the pass 2 days i always have to net up the uneaten spoil wafer


i have some questions:
1) is it some problem with this brand of wafers? i mean it will get some kind of
'white wool' after some time in the water.
2) am i suppose to net up the uneaten food like after 30mins or so?
3) am i giving the right food for my L030 and L047?

i'm new to pleco. thanks

[celticfish]

Welcome back to AQ and pleco-ing Kane.

Depending on the species some do take time to get comfortable to eat.
Some do not feed the first few days.
Others do what you have done, feed and remove waste the next day.

More info on PCF
L030 ---> here
L047 ---> here

Not much information on feeding though.
Let's see if someone who has kept them shows up to help.

btw most pleco keepers I know use Hikari canivore tabs or algae wafers.

1) No experience with this brand but most food do grow fungus after some time in the tank.
Some just take longer for that to happen.

2) Best to feed before lights out and fish out the next morning.

3) Sorry can't help here...

[Quixotic]

They have only been with you for 2 days. They may need some time to get used to the environment and the food that you feed them. If you suddenly change their diet from what they normally get in the LFS with something new, then they need time to make the adjustments.

You may not also be "seeing" them eat, because they normally don't feed when lighting is bright, or out in the open (but they can be "trained" over time). They are more comfortable with dark conditions, so they may only feed when lights are out (so you don't "see" them eat).

From Datz All L-Numbers,

Baryancistrus - Aufwuchs grazer: vegetarian food, tablets and pellets, insect larvae, zooplankton, soft wood

Oligancistrus - Omnivore: vegetarian food, tablets and pellets, insect larvae, zooplankton, soft wood

From what I can see, they lean towards a vegetable based diet. So I don't think wafers are a problem, but perhaps have some wood decoration and feed some variety of food, e.g. vegetables, occasional frozen bloodworm.

[Kane]

yeah.. maybe i'll just net out the uneaten wafer every morning

[Kane]

latest news!!! L030 die today, he is dead!!! and L047 still not eating...... seems like L047 is counting down already, getting thinner and thinner

[Savant]

Can you share with us what brand of wafers you use again?

[Quixotic]

Have you tried any vegetable yet? They would probably take to vegetable more readily than processed food.

Or if you game enough, the method mentioned at the end of this article may work.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=294

[Kane]

i'm using Tropical brand wafers.

[Edit: Kane, please start a thread regarding your L47 in marketplace if necessary, thanks!]

[Savant]

Sorry never heard of this brand before... As mentioned you might want to quickly pop down to buy hikari brand from c328 which most of the bros here have used without problems

[Kane]

L047 is dead too now... all are dead.

[properfool]

ouch. two dead plecos. How much did that cost ?

I still think C328 and the 'rare' floating spinning fish specials they often have in the tanks are not a good place to buy fish...especially expensive ones....

[Quixotic]

Kane,

While we appreciate the kind gesture, please kindly do not include marketplace related information (FOC, Want to Buy, Want to Sell etc) in the Freshwater Fauna section.

I have split your information to this thread in Marketplace, http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=42790.

Many thanks.

[Quixotic]

Dead plecos may or may not have anything to do with the LFS.

Many of the plecos are wild fishes, meaning that it is very likely they carry with them internal bacteria and parasites. And with the traveling involved in the shipments, even the healthiest fish can get weakened by the time they are in the tank in the LFS.

Therefore, when choosing fish, the aquarist need to be vigilant in looking out for such signs and buy the healthiest fish.

[Savant]

Guys, with due respect I disagree with your views on how it is "normal" to have your pleco die on you...

As you all would have known by now, plecos arent always quite the hardy shit eater that we often abuse in the early days of our hobby...

They are quite delicate and do require some level of experience in fishkeeping (cycled tank with good filtration being the minimum)... Granted that their availability is somewhat of a lottery (one cannot wait to go home to read up on a particular L number (which could be wrongly labeled!!!) and yet expect to find that piece waiting for you on your next visit), some consideration must be had before buying...

Finally, when it comes to choosing fishes, the same rules apply... (don buy from tanks you see dead fishes in), dont buy lifeless or sick looking fishes, dont buy plecos with extreme sunken bellie/eyes)...

[yyylarry]

come to think bout it...i havent seen my 3 otos for the past 1 week.

after reading this thread, i guess i will go hunt for them tonight.

[Savant]

Not sure about the experience of others but I have always had been able to spend at least some time considering any pleco that I am considering buying and sometimes reconsidering them after netting them up...

I buy most of my plecos from C328 and have no qualms about informing uncle that any particular fish doesnt look too good or I dont want it anymore because the belly's sunken, etc...

I would admit that there is some degree of risk buying from C328 given that the fishes are overcrowded and some of them die within the tank... But choosing one that is apparently healthy helps to ensure that they have sufficient resistance...

Once home, if the fish is properly quarantined the minute germs from C328 should be a small issue...

Sorry but I just cannot agree that it is normal to buy a pleco and have it die on you for no apparent reason...

[celticfish]

These days the exporter have gotten their act together.
They hold them in quarantine and feed them for an acclimatization period before shipping them.
This improvement has seen a great reduction in deaths shortly after purchase.

There is some discussion about plecos losing some required bacteria in their intestinal tract after prolong starvation too.
Though this point is controversial at best without scientific proof.
However, that part of the "fun" as hobbyist imho.

Some plecos were caught with arsenic too.
Needless to say these fish don't last long when they reach our shores.
Particularly to L046 in the early days when they were exported.
They would simply "waste" away.
Ask the "old birds"...

btw Baryancistrus is a known sentitive genus.
If the water parameters are out so is your fish...

Another point to raise is the nitrate levels in the fish tank.
The tank fish that have been in there were subject to gradual increase.
However, newly purchased plecos, even with good acclimatization, get a sudden "shock" increase.
I believe this could be another cause for newly purchased plecos.