I have fed my plecos several different things with some eaten immediately and others untouched for days. Here is a list of what I have fed-
Sweet potato- they love it
zuchini- they won't touch it
cucumber- they nibble on it
cooked prawns- they love it
brussel sprouts- they nibble on it
romaine lettuce- they love it
sinking carnivore pellets- they love it
algae wafers- they like it
sinking shrimp pellets- they like it

Still have to try-
non salted canned green beans
white potato
tomato
squash of all varieties

Here is a link-

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mmm, strange that ur plecs dont eat zuchini, my BNs love it. i havent tried other veg yet. so far my BNs will munch down almost anything that hits the bottom. plec tablets, wafers, pellets, even flake.

its not as if they are starving, there is always a supply of fresh green algae for them to munch and they aint skinny either.

i will have to try some of the other veg u mention and see how mine like it. i am guessing mine will eat almost anything edible tho.

Let us know what you try and if they like it.

So far I've tried Cucumber, Zucchini, and Lettuce. Have never felt the Lettuce was much of a favourite. I've heard a lot about Sweet Potato, so I guess I'll start with that...

Some observations...A few weeks back, I put in Cucumber, and Zucchini. I found the Zucchini could last 48 hrs before turning to mush, and the Cucumber only 24 hours. In the past few days I've had Cucumber in, and I've thought 'better get that out', thinking it'd disintegrate in my hand. But I've found it to be quite solid! In fact I returned it to the tank.

Anyway, Funky J, do you have any notes on what can be left in the tank for a bit, and what you need to watch over?

Another observation... How quick do the Bristlenose locate the 'fresh' greens! Compare the smell of a Zucchini to the wif from a catfish Wafer. The buggers must have a good snout!

depending what plecos you are keeping then it depends what they will eat as not all plec type fish will eat the same foods one food that i notice no one has mentioned is wood yes wood as some plecs require this in their diet which is why it is recomended that you have bogwood in any tank that contains plecs you will notice that they graze on the wood & it aint just for the algae

The sweet potato can be left in for about 3 days. Some plecs won't touch it if you cut a slice and put it in the tank. You may have to blanch it in boiling water to soften it up a bit for them to like it. The other vegies I put in at night at lights out and remove them in the morning. The cooked prawn I will leave in for a day and take it out if they're not paying attention to it. The L144 is first on the scene when anything goes into the tank, whereas the othe plecs will either bat the food around with their tail or will ignore it completely until somebody else checks it out first. Yes, I have lots of bogwood/rootwood in my aquarium for the plecs to chew on. VERY important for any healthy pleco.

I think the wood bit was actually omitted sub-consciously. I've no doubt in my mind that everyone contributing to this topic so far, has that knowledge of the value of wood fibre to Loricariidae.

And on that note, I wasn't too fussed that wood wasn't mentioned, as I was keen to learn what was on the menu of tasty inter-continental cuisine that other Loricariidae were enjoying (and I also do not see it as a 'food' per se).

But for all our 'Fish Keeping Readers' out there, who want to keep 'Suckermouth Catfish', you know what you need for a healthy bowel movement!

Anyway, has anyone given Fruits, Seeds or, Nuts a go? My understanding is that in many S. American waterways, these items usually end up in the water. It's part of the plants propagation process.

oh, u just reminded me of a unintentional meal my BN had. i put a Madagascar Lace Leaf plant in the tank my larger BN was in. i was wondering y the plant wasnt growing, until i noticed one day my BN was having a good old munch at the bulb. after a day or 2 he had eaten 75% of the bulb. as the rest was looking a bit grotty it went in the bin, sorry Mr BN

I'm also going to try pumpkin seeds. I've heard that plecs enjoy them. I wouldn't try apples as many have tried them and none of the fish touched them. I'll get a list of other foods that have been tried.
My plecs were having a go at my royal farlowella that died yesterday. I would reccomend giving cooked prawn or other meaty foods, including shrimp pellets and carnivore pellets, once to twice a week max.

I cut an Apple through, just off-center, to miss the core. I put this in the tank Saturday morning. It's now Monday afternoon, and they've polished off 2/3 of it. Haven't touched the skin tho'. As I speak, there are two young Bristlenose having a nibble. When I first approached the tank, there were two Clown Loaches sitting right on top. I don't know if they were actually eating any.

Posted this link in a post i answered earlier but i also though it would be a good idea to post it here as well It is an article by Mats Petersson on planet catfish and is very informative

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Its well worth reading if you have any plec types

I tried the apple and they didn't take a liking to it. I tried it with all my plecs and they nibbled on it.

That's interesting. I put another similar piece in, just recently, and it didn't get anywhere near the attention of that piece above.

I suspect when they're young, they're a bit more keen for certain foods. Metabolism, growth, and all that sort of thing.

Perhaps it's just like the Father and Son Bull, up on the hill ?

Well heres a couple of pics of my L235s munching on a pear


In fact it did'nt take long for the pear to get eaten, even my L190 munched down on the pear, i just forgot to take pics