Bn Pleco Quarantine Diet

Hello.

What exactly can you feed a BN Pleco in quarantine being that most quarantine tanks have no algae because they're set up quick, and kept pristine?

How long can an 1 inch Albino BN Pleco be kept in a 10 gallon quarantine?

 

All algae eaters in the aquarium hobby are fed veggies because algae is hard to produce on constant and big enough levels for those guys. Keep in mind plecos also need some protein in their diet.
You could feed them boiled vegetables and something like bloodworms every now and then. My otocinclus which is supposedly "herbivore" eats frozen tilapia daily and I haven't seen a single problem in him since I got it. I do feed him veggies to make sure he is getting in some fiber.

 

Get some good algae wafers. My BN likes the ones with zucchinI added in. He/she will also eat fish flakes and bottom feeder wafers. So far he/she won't touch any veggies, but maybe you'll have more luck.

I kept mine at 2" in a 5.5 qt tank for over a week with other fish and didn't have any issues. Just keep him/her in there as long as you need and keep an eye on water parameters. I will add that I did 3 PWC's a week or more since I had so many fish in there at once. They all did great though.

 

Get some good algae wafers. My BN likes the ones with zucchinI added in. He/she will also eat fish flakes and bottom feeder wafers. So far he/she won't touch any veggies, but maybe you'll have more luck.

I kept mine at 2" in a 5.5 qt tank for over a week with other fish and didn't have any issues. Just keep him/her in there as long as you need and keep an eye on water parameters. I will add that I did 3 PWC's a week or more since I had so many fish in there at once. They all did great though.

Yeah. Not sure I'm getting one or not. I was planning on 8 Panda Cories in the bottom of my 20 long. Might only be able to do 6 with a BN. Not too sure how I feel about that. I really want one for some reason. Plus I have a bit of an algae problem it could help me with. Lol. Also figured the little poop machine would help live plants grow a bit. Especially floaters.

 

They really are voracious algae eaters. I almost feel bad I don't have almost any algae for mine to eat.

It really can be a tough decision. Since they do have a large bio-load you are limited on the amount of fish you can have. However they are super cool and can live a long time. Definitely poop machines like nothing I've ever seen before. I'm sure it could be great for plants. In my 36 Gal with Goldfish I only have 3-5 Nitrates. Gonna have to test the 29 again and see how high they are in there. I forgot how high it was the last time I tested.

I go back and forth about keeping mine all the time. I could have a lot more fish if I didn't have him/her.

 

I go back and forth about keeping mine all the time. I could have a lot more fish if I didn't have him/her.

That makes me lean towards not getting one. The tank in question though is my hopefully soon to be betta community complete with betta. So I don't want it fully stocked for his sake.

 

Well since you are Planning on Corys I would go with more Corys over the BN.
I have both in my 29 and while it hasn't limited the number of Corys I have (both schools are good sizes) it has limited the number of other fish I can add.

This is my stocking level onwith the fish I have and the BN.

"You have plenty of aquarium filtration capacity.

Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 148%.

Recommended water change schedule: 34% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 110%. "

This is my stocking level if I remove the BN and add 8 ChilI Rasboras which are some fish I really want.
You have plenty of aquarium filtration capacity.

Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 148%.

Recommended water change schedule: 35% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 111%. "

 

Well since you are Planning on Corys I would go with more Corys over the BN.
I have both in my 29 and while it hasn't limited the number of Corys I have (both schools are good sizes) it has limited the number of other fish I can add.

This is my stocking level onwith the fish I have and the BN.

"You have plenty of aquarium filtration capacity.

Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 148%.View attachment 339078
Recommended water change schedule: 34% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 110%. "

This is my stocking level if I remove the BN and add 8 ChilI Rasboras which are some fish I really want.
You have plenty of aquarium filtration capacity.

Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 148%.View attachment 339079
Recommended water change schedule: 35% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 111%. "

This is what mine looks like. I've come to not trust this site though.

 

A betta needs warmer water than the BN and panda cories. The bioload level is fine IMO but I would drop the nerites to 1-2

 

A betta needs warmer water than the BN and panda cories. The bioload level is fine IMO but I would drop the nerites to 1-2

Yeah, I'm working on moving the cories. Unfortunately, it's going to take some time. What exactly is a good temp range for a BN? Seen people on here keep them with angels in 80 degree water. Lastly, why only 1-2 nerites? Or is that if I got the BN?

 

You know some people swear by that site and others say the same thing as you, you can't really trust it.

I think it's useful, but not perfect. I like to get an idea of what I might be dealing with, with the stock I want in my tanks, but I know it has it's issues.

I do agree with lowering the number of Nerites. You really aren't gonna need or have food for that many snails and the Pleco. You'll just have to feed everyone more. I do understand though if you still want to have that many. I have Nerites in 4 of my tanks cause I like them so much. The only reason they aren't in the last 2 is because the fish in there will kill them.

 

Yeah, I'm working on moving the cories. Unfortunately, it's going to take some time. What exactly is a good temp range for a BN? Seen people on here keep them with angels in 80 degree water. Lastly, why only 1-2 nerites? Or is that if I got the BN?

BNs need 70-76f with their ideal being around 72-73f.

I would only do 1-2 nerites because there will not be enough food for 1 BN and 6 nerites. They all eat a lot of algae and it is difficult to feed nerites anything but algae. The BN will need feeding obviously but will eat a lot of algae too. I have a young BN (about 2") with 2 nerite snails and 1 horned nerite in my 63 gallon and there is barely any algae. If you skipped the BN I would do 3 nerites maximum.

 

Will a BN Pleco eat algae off or out of an artificial plant like the ones pictured? I was told nerites would. They don't.

 

Will a BN Pleco eat algae off or out of an artificial plant like the ones pictured? I was told nerites would. They don't. View attachment 339571

Unlikely. They'll clean the gravel, walls, and bigger leafed plants, but you'll have to supplementally feed them. They're not worth it if you're just looking for algae control.

How is the photoperiod of that tank? Any direct sunlight?

Try adding real plants to decrease the amount of nutrients available to the algae.

Amano shrimp will eat certain types of algae.

I found bladder snails and pond snails do an amazing job with algae control...they can climb on things and clean things that most creatures can't due to weight. I know most people hate them though. lol