Pleco (seemingly) Not Eating

HI all,
I've recently gotten into keeping plecos.
I have 2 bristlenose one's currently in my 75 gallon tank.
I was ignorant when getting them and didn't realize they needed more than just algae but luckily I had some driftwood in the tank as well so they are still fine now and since learning they need more, I've made sure to keep zucchinI or algae wafers in the tank (putting them in at lights out) to try to get them to eat but they don't seem to have any interest in eating it. I've gone to lengths of putting the wafer in the zucchinI slice and also tried it with a carrot in hopes they'd eat the wafer and then realize that the carrot/zucchinI is also food for them but to no avail. I'm worried because I didn't start them out with these things that they won't figure out this is also food. They were only in the tank for about 1.5-2 weeks before realizing my mistake.
I have added more driftwood in the tank and have plenty of algae for them to snack on but I know now this is not enough. This morning I replaced the old zucchinI with new slices (I've started to grate them into long strings) but I know when I get home the pieces will still be in the tank, untouched. I've been putting this in the tank since Friday.
Will they learn over time that this is food? Is there anything I can do to entice them more to eat? I know boiling may help entice them? Is there any type of food I should try before boiling food?
please help, i'm new to keeping bn plecos and I'd like to keep the ones I have

thanks in advance

 

This is a tough one for me to answer because I feed my babies veggies from day one and I have never had them refuse Zucchini. So I don't know why they are refusing it.

Now, your guys are very little, and they aren't going to put a huge dent in the veggie overnight. It may be that they are munching on it but you just aren't noticing because they aren't making a huge dent.

Hopefully they learn it is food sooner than later, because it is so good for them.

Where are you putting the veggie? Maybe try hiding it in a dark covered corner or something so they feel safer? (if you aren't doing that already)

 

You need to blanch the foods yOu are offering.
Just heat up a cup of water in the microwave to boiling. And soften the food in the water.

I wouldn't be to worried however. They are not needing to eat zucchinI everyday and are probably eating leftovers in the tank.

I never see my clown pleco eat ( I'm not even sure how they were ever found) yet it's in there and thriving right along.

 

This is a tough one for me to answer because I feed my babies veggies from day one and I have never had them refuse Zucchini. So I don't know why they are refusing it.

Now, your guys are very little, and they aren't going to put a huge dent in the veggie overnight. It may be that they are munching on it but you just aren't noticing because they aren't making a huge dent.

Hopefully they learn it is food sooner than later, because it is so good for them.

Where are you putting the veggie? Maybe try hiding it in a dark covered corner or something so they feel safer? (if you aren't doing that already)

Had I known/realized they NEEDED it to survive from day one, I would have put it in there to begin with. I hate that I didn't know they needed it. They only went 2 weeks so it could be worse.
I've kind of just been...letting it float wherever it wants to because it's difficult to place strips of zucchinI in specific spots but I've been trying to get some pieces stuck on the 2 corners where I have my thermometer (and to be fair, they have been hanging around this area a lot now that I've been trying to do this).
The first day I put the zucchinI in, I did notice that some was gone...I put in more than I took out so hopefully they ate it up and I'm just oblivious. I just don't want them to starve...

You need to blanch the foods yOu are offering.
Just heat up a cup of water in the microwave to boiling. And soften the food in the water.

I wouldn't be to worried however. They are not needing to eat zucchinI everyday and are probably eating leftovers in the tank.

I never see my clown pleco eat ( I'm not even sure how they were ever found) yet it's in there and thriving right along.

I'll try to see if heating it up a bit will help... is spaghetti-like strings not needed? Can I do a thin slice of a zucchinI and heat it up a bit and they'll eat it? or are the string pieces what is best?

 

I disagree that they "NEED" to be blanched first. I never blanch mine. And my newborn plecos seem to have no have to issues eating it. Let alone the juvies and adults! They are attached to those veggies from day one.

 

I'll try to see if heating it up a bit will help... is spaghetti-like strings not needed? Can I do a thin slice of a zucchinI and heat it up a bit and they'll eat it? or are the string pieces what is best?

I would do slices, I'm not sure if it matters strings or slices.
Slices would offer more area to eat from

 

I've kind of just been...letting it float wherever it wants to because it's difficult to place strips of zucchinI in specific spots but I've been trying to get some pieces stuck on the 2 corners where I have my thermometer (and to be fair, they have been hanging around this area a lot now that I've been trying to do this).
The first day I put the zucchinI in, I did notice that some was gone...I put in more than I took out so hopefully they ate it up and I'm just oblivious. I just don't want them to starve...

I think that is your problem. Plecos don't go to the surface to eat. So if you are just letting the veggies float, they won't go after it. You want to something to weigh it down. Some people just stick a fork in it and let it drop. I have used veggie clips, or plant weights, or an ornament to pin in down as a last resort.

I bet if you keep the veggies down on the bottom in a covered area, you will find them on it.

 

I think that is your problem. Plecos don't go to the surface to eat. So if you are just letting the veggies float, they won't go after it. You want to something to weigh it down. Some people just stick a fork in it and let it drop. I have used veggie clips, or plant weights, or an ornament to pin in down as a last resort.

I bet if you keep the veggies down on the bottom in a covered area, you will find them on it.

Not really a fan of putting a fork in my tank so that's out of the question. I'll look into the clips since I know I have access to those at the pet store. I'll try to think of where I can put the clips that would be mostly covered, that I have easy access to.
I should be replacing the veggie within 24 hours, right? or is 48 hours fine to keep in? I've been doing 24 for now... obviously this won't be an issue once they start growing and eating more but for now, i'd like to know so my water quality doesn't get destroyed from me keeping an uneaten piece of veggie in the tank

again, thank you

 

There's nothing wrong with using a fork and many people use it to weigh down veggies for their plecos. I found clips don't work very well for certain veggies or if you cut them too thick. I like plant weights (made of lead) and have been using them exclusively. I leave it in for about 48 hrs but it's usually gone by then. Any longer and it turns to mush but I haven't seen any water quality issues if I left it in for longer.

 

There's nothing wrong with using a fork and many people use it to weigh down veggies for their plecos. I found clips don't work very well for certain veggies or if you cut them too thick. I like plant weights (made of lead) and have been using them exclusively. I leave it in for about 48 hrs but it's usually gone by then. Any longer and it turns to mush but I haven't seen any water quality issues if I left it in for longer.

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the lead in the weights/forks don't affect the water? that's what my worry is...

I just read that some have used wooden skewers... I might try that before using metal. plus I have tons of those in the house to waste

 

Like bizaliz3 I don't agree with having to blanch the veggies. Elbert my BN pleco (it's that handsome fellow over there in my avi) has always gotten his zucchinI raw. Just wash it just like you would if you were going to eat it. I usually put in a fairly big piece of it in for him and replace it every 48 hours of so. He prefers the skin so I cut a piece about 2.5 inches long and then cut that piece in half lengthwise..

My 55 gallon tank is so deep I don't want to have to put my hand in the tank to change it out so I use a long wand from a discarded mini-blind. I just skewer the zucchinI on the end of it and wedge it to the bottom of the tank.

Until your BN discovers that the veggies are food be sure to put them in the same place every time. Keep a piece of it in there all the time until they find and start eating it. Once they discover it as food they will find it no matter where it is in the tank. You do want to keep it on the bottom or close to the bottom of the tank.

 

the lead in the weights/forks don't affect the water? that's what my worry is...

Don't you use forks to eat with?

I've been using lead weights for almost a year and have had no issues at all.

 

Like bizaliz3 I don't agree with having to blanch the veggies. Elbert my BN pleco (it's that handsome fellow over there in my avi) has always gotten his zucchinI raw. Just wash it just like you would if you were going to eat it. I usually put in a fairly big piece of it in for him and replace it every 48 hours of so. He prefers the skin so I cut a piece about 2.5 inches long and then cut that piece in half lengthwise..

My 55 gallon tank is so deep I don't want to have to put my hand in the tank to change it out so I use a long wand from a discarded mini-blind. I just skewer the zucchinI on the end of it and wedge it to the bottom of the tank.

Until your BN discovers that the veggies are food be sure to put them in the same place every time. Keep a piece of it in there all the time until they find and start eating it. Once they discover it as food they will find it no matter where it is in the tank. You do want to keep it on the bottom or close to the bottom of the tank.

I've heard blanching them sometimes helps them go to it or it just softens/crumbles faster, so if after a few days I can try to blanch a piece of it and see if they eat it but my goal is to not have to blanch it since I don't necessarily know if I can find 5 minutes of my day every day to do this (i'm not gonna lie).

good to know about the skin...I have 2 bn so I can put the 2 halves in on each side of the tank and stick to that and kinda have one be each of theirs...not that they will realize that when they realize it's food lol. i'm gonna try the wooden skewers that I have and hope that works to keeping them on the bottom. if it doesn't, I have other options.

and to DarkOne, I do obviously but i'm weird and I can't use certain types of forks otherwise my teeth will feel like they are shattering ..... not that a fish is gonna have this happen but still . if the wooden skewers don't work, I'll try the fork. I am trying to avoid spending $$, not that weights or a clip is much

 

I usually cut the zucchinI and put them in a tupperware container and in the freezer so I don't have to buy/cut up every 2-4 days. When I defrost them in hot tap water, they get really soft like they're blanched.

 

I usually cut the zucchinI and put them in a tupperware container and in the freezer so I don't have to buy/cut up every 2-4 days. When I defrost them in hot tap water, they get really soft like they're blanched.

I used to do that too but didn't like how quickly it turned to mush in my tank. I actually had to use a net to get the leftovers out or my tank would be fouled with zucchinI mush and even then I would have to go back with my trusty turkey baster to get the rest out. I decided raw worked for both me and Elbert. I figure if they can rasp wood they can rasp raw veggies

 

I buy frozen zucchini/yellow squash. They're already blanched prior to being frozen. I just clip a piece in a sinking veggie clip and throw it in. I have a string tied to it so I can pull it out when they're done with it.

 

I used to do that too but didn't like how quickly it turned to mush in my tank. I actually had to use a net to get the leftovers out or my tank would be fouled with zucchinI mush and even then I would have to go back with my trusty turkey baster to get the rest out. I decided raw worked for both me and Elbert. I figure if they can rasp wood they can rasp raw veggies

I found that it will last at least 48 hrs before it turns to mush. My SAEs also love zucchinI so it's all gone within 48hrs. Any leftovers after 2 days is still firm enough to pull out and throw into my snail tank.

I experienced the mush when I got a baby L128 and 6 otos. I put a small piece in QT for them and while the otos were on it once in a while, my little L128 didn't really touch it. I forgot how long it was in there (definitely more than 48h) and when I went to pull it out, it was mush.

One side effect is that I get zucchinI spaghettI poop all over the place after feeding.

 

I have found that my plecos love all kinds of different things! I feed them zucchini, cucumbers green beans lettuce spinach, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and oh they love watermelon.. they eat huge pieces and their bellies always look a bit pink when they are done!!lol I use a clip like you use to close a chip bag to get them to sink if they don't sink right away..

 

Do you happen to have a filter near where your plecos are hiding? If you're putting in food and they're not going for it, they may actually be surviving off something else such as flakes, etc that get drawn to your filter out of preference. My pleco's a bit of a picky eater, and I hardly ever see him go for the extra food I had for him (sometimes I'll see him going for a wafer right before bed though) and seems to prefer flakes, etc that get drawn to my sponges

 

so I posted this in sept. since about 2 weeks after I posted this, they started to figure out that the zucchinI was for them.... although now my issue is snails getting it before him, so I put 2 pieces in

 

so I posted this in sept. since about 2 weeks after I posted this, they started to figure out that the zucchinI was for them.... although now my issue is snails getting it before him, so I put 2 pieces in

Sometimes it does take them some time to discover that the veggies are food 'specially if the breeder wasn't feeding them their veggies. My Elbert (over there in my avatar) went right for his but that may because he saw Jethro (my common big boy that is now living out his life in a huge above ground pond) eating it and wanted his share

Persistence does pay off when it comes to getting Plecos to eat their veggies. You just keep offering it until they get a taste for it as you finally found .

 

Had I known/realized they NEEDED it to survive from day one, I would have put it in there to begin with. I hate that I didn't know they needed it. They only went 2 weeks so it could be worse.
I've kind of just been...letting it float wherever it wants to because it's difficult to place strips of zucchinI in specific spots but I've been trying to get some pieces stuck on the 2 corners where I have my thermometer (and to be fair, they have been hanging around this area a lot now that I've been trying to do this).
The first day I put the zucchinI in, I did notice that some was gone...I put in more than I took out so hopefully they ate it up and I'm just oblivious. I just don't want them to starve...


I'll try to see if heating it up a bit will help... is spaghetti-like strings not needed? Can I do a thin slice of a zucchinI and heat it up a bit and they'll eat it? or are the string pieces what is best?

I suggest just putting a whole (2×2 inch) broccolI floret in the tank. Boil water, when it comes to a boil, drop the floret in then simmer for 1 minute-remove, cool, and drop that in the tank. It will sink. You can leave that for a couple of days. Just look at it each day to see if some of the green buds are being gnawed down. Tiny pieces are hard to remove and even baby plecos will chew on large pieces. Check your ammonia & nitrites. If they are above 0 or your NITRATES are over 40, your plecos may not eat.

I blanch a few cups of broccolI florets (or squash) and freeze them-they freeze better blanched-and just drop them in as I need them right out of the freezer. Dense Veggies also sink better if lightly blanched-1 minute or so.

 

I actually tried blanched broccolI the other day!! one of my plecos went for it but the other didn't so maybe after another water change this weekend I'll try it again.