Shellfish are great options for your aquarium, in addition to leaving it free of algae. The plecostomus, or plecostomus, is a type of catfish (or catfish, as it is known elsewhere) very common in aquariums. Plecos feed on algae, but your home aquarium will not provide enough food to keep you satisfied. You will need to feed them kibble too. They are omnivorous, meaning you can feed them meat such as shrimp and earthworms as well as vegetables including cucumber and cauliflower.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Food
Step 1. Keep wooden stubs floating in the aquarium at all times
Shellfish need a lot of fiber in their diet, and they can get it from wood. Always have several pieces of wood in the aquarium so your hull can suck and scrape. The small pieces of wood that the shellfish eat help with digestion.
Instead of picking up any kind of wood, choose the ones that are sold at fish and aquarium stores
Step 2. Feed your shellfish with seaweed feed
Make sure your fish has enough food by supplementing the aquarium algae with algae feed. The feed falls to the bottom of the aquarium, making it easier for the catfish to find it.
Seaweed feed can be found at your neighborhood pet shop or an aquarium store
Step 3. Add meat to the shellfish diet
They are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals. Your shellfish will enjoy earthworms, worms and shrimp. You can choose from fresh and frozen varieties.
Earthworms, worms and shrimp can be found in pet shops and fish stores
Step 4. Feed your shellfish with fruits and vegetables
He will love eating different vegetables such as broccoli, peas in pods, lima beans, cauliflower, celery, cabbage and cucumber. While your husk also likes small pieces of cantaloupe melon, sweet melon, breadfruit and papaya, avoid giving sour fruits or vegetables like tomatoes and oranges.
Simply wash and cut the fruits or vegetables into several small pieces to prepare them for your husk
Method 2 of 3: Feeding at the Right Times
Step 1. Consider the size and age of your shellfish
If he's small and young, the algae from the pond, along with the algae ration and leftover food from other fish will be enough to keep him satisfied. If the shellfish is the only one in the aquarium, it will be necessary to feed it more often. As your shellfish matures, add more variety and quantity of food.
- Young plecos can survive on little algae feed daily.
- Once your husk reaches 60 cm, it is considered mature.
Step 2. Watch your shellfish after feeding it
Once you've provided the food, see if he'll gobble it up quickly. If he starts eating right away, they may be very hungry and need to be fed more often. If he ignores food, you may need to feed them less often.
Step 3. Offer at least one serving of seaweed feed per day
Your home aquarium will not provide algae necessary to keep you satisfied. Give your plecos one serving at night before going to sleep as they are nocturnal animals and eat at night. If he's devoured everything when you wake up in the morning, give him another helping.
Step 4. Feed your shellfish once or twice a week
As they are omnivorous animals, they will enjoy a juicy snack occasionally. You can give worms, worms or shrimp once or twice a week. It can be fresh, frozen or ground meat. If you are using fresh meat, cut it into small pieces before throwing it into the tank.
Feed small pieces of fresh shrimp or several pieces of shredded shrimp feed or pieces of earthworm or worm in one portion to the husk
Step 5. Feed your shellfish with fruits and vegetables once or twice a week
Fruits and vegetables provide the fiber they need to stay healthy. Offer fruits and vegetables once or twice a week. Cut them into small pieces before throwing them into the aquarium and add a weight so the food can sink to the bottom.
- Alternatively, you can use an aquarium clip to keep food on the sides of the aquarium close to the bottom.
- Give your husk a serving equivalent to approximately two dimes, or a slice of cucumber or a small piece of broccoli.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping the Pellets Healthy
Step 1. Keep only one shell per aquarium
Catfish like the hullfish often fight each other when they are sharing the same space. Some fight to the death, so it's best to keep only one head per tank. They get along well with most other species, except piranhas and acaras.
Step 2. Give them plenty of space
Plecos can grow up to 46cm (18 inches). This means you will need an aquarium larger than 100 gallons (380 L). You can choose the smaller hull varieties like Golden, Zebra, Clown or Bristlenose hulls if you have a tank smaller than 100 gallons (380 L).
For example, a husky clown lives well in a 75 L aquarium
Step 3. Provide a timer for lighting
Plecos are nocturnal, so they need darkness to be able to move and feed. Therefore, it is not ideal to keep your aquarium lights on at all times. Set a timer for the lights to replicate natural light cycles (ie the lights will be on during the day and off at night).
Step 4. Find hiding places in the aquarium
Hiding places will make your head feel safer. They will spend most of their time in hiding, especially during the day. Put small tunnels or caves especially for fish in your aquarium or use PVC pipe sections.
Step 5. Do not fill the aquarium to the top
Avoid water to the top as the hulls come to the surface to breathe some air to improve buoyancy. If the tank is completely full, they might not get enough air or they might bump their nose on the lid and get hurt.
Step 6. Make sure the cover is secure
Plecos are capable of jumping out of water. If the tank has the lid poorly closed, they could escape, potentially injuring themselves or even dying. For this reason, keep the aquarium lid tight.