75 Gallon Tank New Pleco -- How much to feed?

Just added a regal pleco to my tank. I have some wafers to feed, and although he's mostly hiding behind the filter right now I'm guessing if I put them down he will find his way when he feels safe? Only Q was how *many* wafers to add? Without watching him feed immediately I'm not sure how to gauge whether it's overkill or not? The fish is about 4".

Also saw people recommending adding veggies? Should I wait till the fish is a little more acclimatized to the tank before putting those in?

--Sam

 

I'd throw a couple in there and see how it goes. They also love feeding on driftwood. I think people boil the veggies before putting them in although I'm not sure on that, I feed mine wafers too.

 

Looks like a Dull Eyed Royal Pleco to me, L191.
He is definitely a wood eater & will eat algae wafers along with most foods that reach the bottom.

 

Wild caught so might not immediately recognise wafers as food.

 

As for the wafers, it is best to feed just enough for the pleco to consume within a few minutes, to avoid uneaten food polluting the water. A rough guideline is 2-3 wafers per inch of fish length per feeding.

For veggies, you can wait a few days to a week after the pleco has settled in before offering them. You can also try offering small pieces of zucchini, spinach, or lettuce as they are a common favorite among plecos.

 

Thanks all!

He's currently hiding behind the filter mostly. I just added a Pleco cave as an alternative hiding spot -- elsewhere in the tank there are some good spots under a large piece of driftwood and a few corners behind rocks/etc. but I'm guessing that a more explicit cave would suit? Do I just trust that he will find the cave when I'm not around during the day, or should I encourage him towards it in some way?

 

Now the Pleco has decided to clamp himself onto the end of my black ghost fish's favorite cholla wood log, blocking one of its exits... this doesn't end well, right? I have a pleco cave at the opposite end of the tank and a huge piece of delicious driftwood nearby too...

 

Been a week, Pleco has now taken up a regular position clamped under the large driftwood log in the tank during the day, ventures out at night. Doesn't seem to have touched veggies; and generally the wafers go untouched (and I remove in the morning) -- there was maybe a day or 2 where something disturbed them, maybe ate some overnight. There *does* seem to be an amount of extra poop in the tank in places close to where he likes to hang under the log... if it's pooping, do I assume it's eating something and is OK?

 

A rough guideline is 2-3 wafers per inch of fish length per feeding.

That's a huge over feeding unless the wafers are tiny. I used to feed my two 6" BNplecos one wafer between them. They lived long and healthy lives. The wafers I used were 5/8" or about 16mm in diameter.

If you continue to have problems getting them to eat you could try Repashy Morning Wood. It's made for plecos that need wood in their diets.

 

That's a huge over feeding unless the wafers are tiny. I used to feed my two 6" BNplecos one wafer between them. They lived long and healthy lives. The wafers I used were 5/8" or about 16mm in diameter.

If you continue to have problems getting them to eat you could try Repashy Morning Wood. It's made for plecos that need wood in their diets.

My plecos have always gone nuts over repashy. Is pricey so i don't get it very often. I especially like to feed when they aren't big enough to sex yet, if you can get them that small.

 

ah, sounds like there's maybe too much wafer going in, perhaps. But that Repashy looks good-- the label even has a pic that looks just like my pleco! Is that name a deliberate joke!?

 

Certainly is deliberate. Several different ki ds of repashy out there total.