Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I asked this a while back and thought I'd try again.

I have the wafers for the pleco. I try to feed our turtle first so he won't go for it and I try to sneak it in there, but he always finds it and snatches it. Do you think it's bad for him?

Also, how would i know if the pleco is getting enough? We've also noticed lately that the pleco FREAKS out when we're feeding the turtle. He starts spazzing and swimming all over the place. Landing on the turtle back, underside and head!! It's the weirdest thing!!

Any help?
thanks!
Christi

Algae wafers are basically just fish food, they won't hurt your turtle unless they're too rich.
For your pleco, make sure the first ingredient in the wafers is spirulina, most of those wafers are just fish meal with plant matter as an afterthought.
I don't know how to tell if the pleco is eating enough, I guess it would also depend on how much algae is growing in the tank. I'm glad you're feeding him, though, most people don't bother.
-----
Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Thank you. Reading the package (Top Fin product), in the description, it says "contains spirulina algae", but I dont' see it in the description anywhere. I do see that fish meal is the first ingredient followed by several other diff meals. Dried algae is #9 and Algae Meal is #10. Sounds like I may have the wrong thing. It does say return for refund or exchange if unhappy, so I dont' guess it matters that I've been dipping into it for a couple of months.

Is there anything in any of it that I should watch for that isn't good for the turtle? Do you think I should start taking our RES out until the wafer is dissolved?

Thanks again!

Algae wafers are BETTER turtle food than most turtle pellets. I would NOT worry at all if your turtles eats them
But by all means try to get ones higer in plant material and alage than in fish meal. (the other ingredients are bascially the same as n most turtle pellets unless you have eco therm, jurrassi diet or turtle brittle) Top Fin is made exclusibvely for Petsmart...call them and ask to get you an ingredients list with numbers.
The pleco will appreciate pieces of veggies and water plansys just like your slider.
plecos, when well fed grow fast expect him to triple/quadruple in size the first year (a two inch pleco easily becomes a 6 to 8 inch pleco even if fed every other day, in a year, if we are talking about hypostomus plecostomus)

I believe that Wardley's makes a good one.
-----
Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Wardley's and Hikari make good ones. I feed them to my turtles and mollies as well. They are excellent for them.

Regarding the Pleco -- he will get pinched in the abdomin and his eyes will sink in if he is not getting enough food over a prolonged period of time. Just keep an eye on his body shape. If you are feeding the wafers he should be fine. Do you have a piece of drift would in there too. They like to scrape stuff of that as well.

Ok, thanks. I will look for those brands this weekend.

As far as the pleco, I haven't been worried so far about his intake. He looks fine. I do have a few bigger rocks in the bottom and the basking rock. He sucks on htem and on the chicken when I put it in the tank. He also usually finds the wafer, and if I see our RES eying it, I'll direct the pleco to the wafer.

They both seem good so far. It is also just the weirdest thing to see the pleco spazzing. He's so goofy sometimes that he's pulling the turtle back down at times.

Thanks!

Mr. Plecco just loves to wrestle the pieces to the tank bottom and suck wholes in them...leaving only rings of rind scattered about...8-)

I had forgotten about zucchini. Do you use a weight, or does it sink? If it floats, does the pleco go up to it, grab it and bring it down to munch?

Thanks!

i don't use any weights...Mr. Plecco goes right up, grabs it, and pulls it down to the bottom...we've caught him in the act one night...he is very use to us and doesn't hide anymore when we go around the tank....

Yes, I forgot about the zucchini. Waht other veggies would you suggest? I guess from now on I really only have to worry about choking the turtle, so I have been breaking the pieces.

Thanks!