Pleco behavior

Claude

Probably right mate. See if you can get a look at his belly if you are worried, if it is sunk in, then you might be in trouble, but if it is level, or slightly bulging, you are good.

Andyandsue

My guy is always upsidedown in the cave like a bat. I'm pretty sure mine is a common but I can't be sure because I can't get a good enough look at him to check him or his belly out!

I keep putting an algae wafer in each night before I go up to bed, and it's gone in the morning, but I have seen my piggy cories eating it.

I'm worried about my Pleco! He's so cool I would hate for him to die...

Falina

have you tried the salad leaves rolled with a rolling pin? if he doesnt take that maybe its time to pin your nose shut and put some garlic in there

Elahrairah

My pleco was exactly the same way. For a couple of years now, he would hide all day long in a cave. As soon as the light came on in the morning, he would rush under.....hardly ever see him.

Then one day I added some driftwood. I don't know what's up with that driftwood, but he has done a 180. He is flashing all around the tank non-stop....he loves nibbling on it.

Andyandsue

I heard that they LOVE driftwood. Maybe I'll add a small piece in the tank and see what happens. I got a pleco because of the clean-up factor and because they are just so cool, but I never get to see him!

musho3210

they dont really count as plecos but my otos doe the same thing, plus they are small so it takes me forever to spot them out....

daisycutter

small plecos can be a bit jumpy larger plecos rerely even bother trying to hide starved plecos from some stores never really recover i bought 2 commons from a pet chainstore(petsmart,petco whetever ) a long time back both died while one i purchased from well run aqatic center is now 12 inches long in identical conditions
cories will eat until they balance on there own bellies but will not eat the greens i mentioned earlier

Andyandsue

I bought him from a quality LFS that I have purchased every one of my fish from, but I'm not sure what the deal is with him. I haven't seen him out since he found that cave. I know he is still alive, but I really hope he doesn't die in there!

daisycutter

you can try to feed him almost anything aslong as you remember the mecanics of the plecos mouth he can only rasp and suck so anything that can be hovered up or rasped away at might tempt him it could also be worth finding out what the shop fed them