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	Plecos eat flakes?
Wizard Enthusiast Posts: 185 Kudos: 105 Registered: 04-Mar-2003	The other night, I saw a new behavior. My common pleco swam up the back of the tank, and then arched his back so that his head was upside-down, at the surface of the water. This allowed him to eat the flake food floating on the water. Is this a "normal" pleco behavior? Is mine starving? Or has he just found a way to supplement his diet?!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05
moondog Moderator The Hobnob-lin Posts: 2676 Kudos: 1038 Votes: 4366 Registered: 30-Sep-2002	i've heard of some plecos coming to eat at the surface, but usually they just wait for the food to reach the bottom. i think if they come to the surface like that it means that they're not scared of the other fish going after them. "That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05
mariosim Enthusiast Posts: 207 Kudos: 245 Votes: 20 Registered: 28-Jul-2004	mine is a common pleco, and he is very well fed on just about everything (zuchinni, wafers, pellets, etc). he will sometimes eat flakes like you described, but i assume he is just eating it because it is there. unless you have reason to believe he is under fed (does your feeding regimen fit in with the plecos' size?), i would not worry too much.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05
Natalie Ultimate Fish Guru Apolay Wayyioy Posts: 4499 Kudos: 3730 Votes: 348 Registered: 01-Feb-2003	Common plecos are scavengers as well as algae eaters, so it's not unusual for them to feed on flakes at the surface. I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05
Cup_of_Lifenoodles Fish Guru Posts: 2755 Kudos: 1957 Votes: 30 Registered: 09-Sep-2004	This is actually fairly common behavior.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	There has been many posts here in this forum about plecos coming up to the surface to eat. As long as you're feeding him properly, which it sounds like you are, then I wouldn't worry about it at all. Actually, I think it's kinda neat, because most plecs hide a lot, at least all mine did. So at least you get to see yours. G/L with him. [hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font] -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05


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