How to Grow Algae for My Pleco

When plecos hatch and are very small, they live on a diet of algae that they will suck up off rocks, ornaments and the sides of aquarium walls. They can grow up to two feet long. As they get larger, they require more variety and nutrition in their diet that algae cannot support. If they don't receive these supplements they will eventually die of starvation.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 jars
  • Rocks
  • Old aquarium water
  • Vegetables and fruits
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a couple of jars with old water from your aquarium when you clean it. Put some rocks in the jars and place the jars in a sunny window. Sunshine and oxygen will cause algae to grow on the rocks. Check on the rocks in about one week and you will find a good amount of algae grown on them. Drop the algae-covered rocks in the aquarium for the pleco to enjoy. Keep a second set of rocks in a jar and rotate them to keep a continuous supply on hand.

    • 2

      Feed your pleco a variety of vegetables, starting with leafy greens like romaine lettuce and spinach. Cut and slice some zucchini and cucumbers and drop them in the tank. You can peel, slice and blanch a sweet potato for it. Slice up some fruits that wild plecos eat when they drop from trees, such as papayas, honeydew melons and cantaloupes. If they don't eat a new food the first time you give it to them, don't give up and try it again a few days later. Keep trying a variety of different vegetables and fruits to figure out what your pleco likes the best.

    • 3

      Cut up a bloodworm or earthworm and drop it in the tank once a week. You can also cut up a shrimp for a smaller pleco or leave the shrimp whole for a larger pleco to eat. They don't require meat foods every day, but they enjoy it occasionally and it is a good supplement for them.