Are Pleco’s vegetarians?
February 13th, 2010 | by admin |I have a common pleco like the one in the picture (see link below). Last night I came home to find one of my fish dead (it was a loach), and the pleco was eating it. I thought plecos were vegetarians that live primarily on a diet on algae? What would cause my pleco to eat the loach?
p.s. I have no evidence that the pleco attacked and killed the loach.
http://biggerbetterfish.com/Pictures/Pets/Plecos/Even%20common%20Plecos%20can%20be%20pretty.jpg
This shows a picture of the loach that I have that was eaten
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brettb.com/images/AlgaeLoach.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.brettb.com/TropicalFish_AlgaeLoach.asp&usg=__oUimUIO4DELBlkIa2SiiIDHlPh4=&h=295&w=450&sz=78&hl=en&start=22&um=1&tbnid=_DUcI_TdATUU_M:&tbnh=83&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dloach%26start%3D21%26ndsp%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4DMUK_en-GBGB280GB280%26sa%3DN
All Plecos are technically omnivores. Some are actually carnivorous and won’t touch algae. There are over 700 species of Pleco.
The Common Pleco (there are actually 3 species known as the Common Pleco) is primarily herbivorous eating plant and algae matter, they also need bogwood in their diet. They are also opportunistic however, and if a protein source such as a dead fish presents itself, they won’t miss a meal.
10 Responses to “Are Pleco’s vegetarians?”
By Izzy on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
They are vegetarians but sometimes when they’re not hungry they try and suck the slime coating on the fish. Dx
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By catx on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
All Plecos are technically omnivores. Some are actually carnivorous and won’t touch algae. There are over 700 species of Pleco.
The Common Pleco (there are actually 3 species known as the Common Pleco) is primarily herbivorous eating plant and algae matter, they also need bogwood in their diet. They are also opportunistic however, and if a protein source such as a dead fish presents itself, they won’t miss a meal.
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By John C on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
hi, plectomus are omnivores but mainly just eat organic stuff, pleco’s love eating bloodworms and stuff. it was sucking away at your "loach" because it was dead, pleco’s would never kill a live fish, other than its own species sometimes. so your loach would have already been dead, hence why your plectomus was eating it.
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Fish breeder/keeper, researched plectomas lots because there so interesting, work in an aquarium shop.
By Katie on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
I’ve had plecos for 4 years in tanks with mollies. They have never attacked or killed any, even the fry. However, they WILL feed off of dead fish. Is it possible the fish died on it’s own?
They do like lots of vegetables. Try giving zucchini (attached to something that will make it sink), lettuce (can be attached to wall of the tank with veggie clips), green beans, and other vegetables. I’ve also read they like cantalope, but I can’t see putting that in my tank. Seems to me the juice would mess up the water, but I’m probably wrong. There’s more but I just can’t think of them right now, but don’t forget their algae wafers they love them.
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By Mr. Saeba on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
Yes Pleco’s are Algea eaters, but thay are part of Carfish Family, thay will eat any dead fish in the tank.
Hope it helps
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By keith w.m. on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
plecos are NOT 100% vegetarians.in the wild they eat vegy matter which contain small creatures like daff and any thing that is feeding on the plants.they will graze on any carcass that is there.mine love frozen bloodworm – mussles-and almost any other frozen foods i give them.yes they eat vegy matter but not exclusively.
hope this helps
regards
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kept and bred quite a few of the sucker-mouth fish
By marcusgonzales210 on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
The common algae eaters are mainly vegetarian when they are younger but as they get larger they tend to prefer the meatier foods. But the small ones will eat dead fish.
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By troutmaster73 on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
all plecos are scavengers feeding on dead fish plants just about anything that it can polish off it will
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By Paul J on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
put some algae wafers in that will keep him happier. mine loves them.
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By Ianab on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply
Common plecos will eat just about ANYTHING that cant swim away.
If wont have killed an active fish like a loach, but it will certainly feed on the body.
They are omnivores and should be fed mostly vege based food, but they certainly like a bit of meatier stuff in their diet too.
Ian
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