What Do Pleco Catfish Eat?

The pleco catfish---short for plecostomus---are large armour-plated freshwater fish that can grow to 2 feet long or more. They are often kept by aquarium owners as a means of keeping the tank walls free from algae.

  1. Algae

    • Plecostomus catfish are native to the South American rain forests where they primarily graze on algae and fallen vegetation. In a community tank, plecos will use their rasping sucker mouths to scrape algae from the glass, gravel and ornaments.

    Additional Vegetables

    • Additional foods are needed for plecostomus catfish when the tank has little algae. These can include zucchini (courgette), cooked green beans, boiled spinach and romaine lettuce.

    Meat

    • Pleco catfish will take protein in the form of other fish given the chance. The pleco will attack slow moving, flat-sided and sick fish by sucking on their sides. A high quantity of meat in a plecostomus's diet can lead to dietary issues.