[swilsonmoses]

Hello all!

I just stocked my first tank with rasboras, a bristlenose pleco, and a single mystery snail a week ago. After the first day, I haven't seen the pleco anywhere other than hiding under decorations - he's never out in the day. My snail is super active and constantly moving around eating.

Every time I drop an algae wafer in the tank, the snail finds it first. How can I make sure my pleco doesn't starve due to inactivity? I can't imagine how he would ever find an algae wafer unless I put it right in front of him, and 90% of the time I don't even know where he is.

Thanks!

 

[nathanl164]

My strategy would be split the wafer in two and put one half on one side of the tank and put the other at the opposite end where you have seen the pleco before once the snail finds the first half.

 

[itsdirk]

He’ll get comfy soon enough and start aggressively shooing anything away from food. Just takes time.

 

[FuzzyMuffin]

Maybe try a zucchini slice? When I had a pleco I would hide his wafers and pellets in it to keep my goldfish from eating them, and then he’d munch on the zucchini too. Otherwise I bet you could contain your snail during feedings, either in a temporary container or perhaps a breeding net in the tank.

 

[*Ci*]

I have some L-134 plecos that are very shy, I put wafers in there at night and just assume that they get some before the snails. They are growing so I guess it is working!

 

[dfarr67]

I have spent some big $$ on Pleco's and some cats and very rarely see my investment ;(

 

[swilsonmoses]

Maybe try a zucchini slice? When I had a pleco I would hide his wafers and pellets in it to keep my goldfish from eating them, and then he’d munch on the zucchini too. Otherwise I bet you could contain your snail during feedings, either in a temporary container or perhaps a breeding net in the tank.

Ooh good call.

 

[Aaronious]

Feed wafers after lights out. Plecos are quite nocturnal.

 

[mamalexirose]

That is standard pleco behavior. 😜 They are shy, love being in/under dark caves, nooks and crannies, and they are most active at night. Of course personality can always vary in individuals. I have one that is quite active and visible during the day. I hardly see the rest! Makes each glimpse of them more fun tho. As for food, put the algae wafer or a chunk of veggie in the tank after turning the lights off for the night. Blanched sweet peppers/bell pepper, zucchini, sweet potato and butternut squash are the favorites amongst my bristlenose plecos and my gibbiceps (sailfin pleco). I chop and blanch some and freeze it for later, or I just by the bags of frozen veggies from the grocery store. The store bought frozen are already blanched, so all i have to do is toss a piece in the tank. It thaws and sinks pretty quick. Just take it out after 24hrs, if there is any left. The snail will benefit from fresh veggies too. If you have a blue setting on your tank light, you can try using that during the evening. May give you more chances to see the bristlenose.

 

[CasualChaos]

Hello all!

I just stocked my first tank with rasboras, a bristlenose pleco, and a single mystery snail a week ago. After the first day, I haven't seen the pleco anywhere other than hiding under decorations - he's never out in the day. My snail is super active and constantly moving around eating.

Every time I drop an algae wafer in the tank, the snail finds it first. How can I make sure my pleco doesn't starve due to inactivity? I can't imagine how he would ever find an algae wafer unless I put it right in front of him, and 90% of the time I don't even know where he is.

Thanks!

Iirc most pleco species are also mostly nocturnal, I'd try what the others have said about breaking into multiple pieces and or using some blanched zucchini, but do it at night, like an hour or 2 after lights out.
Best of luck

 

[Ticojon]

Almost everything in my tank, except for the harlequin rasboras eats those wafers.