What Do Pleco Catfish Eat?

Pleco catfish will eat fat goldfish by sucking on their sides.

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.

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.

References

• Aquatic Community: Common Pleco
• Aquatic Pets Plus: Caring for Your New Plecostomus
• Badmans Tropical Fish: Pleco