hi all

Hi people just to tell you know gn pleco is eating very well now i was just wondering how often should i be feeding the greedy big i'm currently giveing him 3 to 4 inch pieces of cucumber and cougette every other day and he eating it all apart for the skin by the morning and on friday either a cockle or mussel again gone by the morning please advise would be greatfull ps does'nt seem bothered by flakes or waffers

dtm

Hiya deetm. I have 2 BN's in my tropical tank, and I feed them about 4 times a week, sometimes a bit more with a variety of stuff - fruit, veggies, wafers etc.

OK - cucumber doesnt have much in the way of nutrients (to a fish) so whilst they love the taste - dont use it as a staple (what goes in comes out and all plecs are pooing machines)

OK -I have 4 Bristlenose plecs (2 regular 2 starry) 1 Snowball (LDA33) and now a Candy Stripe L015 - the latter 2 are muich like GN's in that they are omnivors (personally I put all BN's inthe same omnivore bag too)

Here is my Plec feeding diary for a week (bear in mind I have garras and corys as well as other bottom dwellers to feed - this diet covers all of em)

This is for evenings - in the morning my regular fish get fed (but the greedy so n so's called plecs raid that too )

Monday = Half a courgette (split in half again), 4 Romaine Lettuce leaves, 4 Algae wafers, carnivore pellets, protein pellets, regular catfish pellets, catfish tabs, 8 regular generic 'sinking wafers'

Tuesday = Nothing (its pellet day in themorning so they are covered)

Wednesday = Half courgette (split), Slice apple, slice of sweet potato, 4 Algae wafers, carnivore pellets, protein pellets, regular catfish pellets, catfish tabs, 8 regular generic 'sinking wafers'

Thursday = Nothing

Friday = Half courgette (split), Slice apple, slice of sweet potato, 4 Algae
wafers, carnivore pellets, protein pellets, regular catfish pellets,
catfish tabs, 8 regular generic 'sinking wafers'

Saturday = 4" Slice Of cucumber, (split), 4 Algae
wafers, carnivore pellets, protein pellets, regular catfish pellets,
catfish tabs, 8 regular generic 'sinking wafers'

Sunday - Nothing for the whole tank all day

Thats the base feed - but other 'treats' the get at unfixed days are

Peas (cooked, n squished), Water Cress, Spinach, Mango, Pineapple, Fresh salmon, Fresh Trout, Prawns (the cooked peeled type)

other things ive found my plecs (or ancistrus ) are pigs for include

earthworms (and earthworm flakes), Garlic Flake, Beef heart Flake (only feed small amounts), Spirulina Flake, General Vegetarian Flake, Brine shrimp flake.

Basically - you need to experiment and see what theyll eat - of course 'live food' (easier to get frozen ones) such as bloodworms and anything else the shop has - will go down a storm - and all your fish will have a go at them too

You may find this link useful

http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=93

For the plecs, I add algae tabs. twice a week and fresh veg. twice a week but on different days.