Many people have the misconception that they don’t have to provide any food to their team of algae eaters. Unfortunately this is far from the truth and results in many fish casualties along the way. Here are some tips that can help you keep your next pleco alive.

1. Offer them a varied diet of fresh greens and vegetables.

There are many different types of algae that grow in the aquarium, and not all plecos eat all types. In fact, it would be difficult to find an algae-eating fish that shows an interest in algae species outside of their specialty. For this reason, it is important to supplement your diet with various greens and greens to prevent starvation. This also applies to snails, otocinclus, and any other algae-eating creatures you have in your tank.

2. Don’t keep multiple algae together by eating fish.

Make sure you don’t go overboard with fish and invertebrates that specialize in eating algae. If you do, there will be too much competition for one food source that just can’t sustain them all. Common plecos are also known to become territorial with their own species as they mature, so you may eventually end up having trouble keeping more than one in your fish tank.

3. Get rid of the salt in the aquarium.

Many species of plecostomus are very sensitive to salt, so if you add aquarium salt to your tank, you will have to decide between pleco or salt! The best thing to do is to research the species you have purchased to find out their ideal environment.

4. Buy only babies who have a well rounded stomach.

This is very important advice that is often overlooked. Don’t be afraid to order a specific pleco from the pet store, they can be quick but not impossible to catch! It is not advisable to bring home a baby with a very sunken stomach because it is a very good indication that it is not a healthy fish.

5. Research your chosen species before purchasing.

Taking the time to learn about your fish is a big part of keeping them alive. Many species of fish that feed on algae and pleco have very specific care requirements that you will have to meet. For example, some plecos rely heavily on a diet containing driftwood, and some of the so-called algae eaters are not herbivores at all! Rather, they prefer a very meaty diet that generally has them scooping chunks from the other peaceful fish in their community.

It is very important to remember that your pleco (or other fish / snail eating algae) are not going to do all the work for you. If you are having difficulty controlling excessive algae growth in your fish tank setup, you will need to find out what the root cause is.