One of the most asked questions after discovering baby plecos in your tank is what do you feed them?
This question causes a lot of people stress because they just want to take the best care of the pleco babies as possible.
The short answer is that baby plecos can eat anything adults can eat but not all food is created equal in ease for your baby plecos to consume.
The biggest killer I have found of baby plecos, after being eaten by other fish in the tank, is starvation.
Most of the time it isn’t that there isn’t food in the tank for them but they can’t consume the food fast enough for the energy they need to grow.
This is why high nutrient and easily consumable is a must. Plecos are bottomless pits and their babies are no different.
Can I Feed My Baby Plecos Canned Green Beans?
Canned green beans are my preferred food for baby plecos.
Canned green beans are super easy to find at any grocery store and they are super cheap.
Because human grade food is a higher quality of food than fish food you can go with any brand. No need to spend extra money when you don’t have to.
Now while the brand makes no difference you will want to be selective with a few things.
First, you will want to make sure they are ”no salt ” green beans. The salt in salted green beans is high enough that if consumed frequently enough can harm or kill your baby plecos. So be careful when purchasing canned green beans
Second I would strongly suggest getting French cut green beans for several reasons. One is that the soft insides of the green bean are easy to access. the skin on a green bean can be hard for your baby plecos to get through so getting the French cut helps with this.
Second is that the small shreds of green beans make it so you can put more pieces in the tank so there are more feeding areas without overfeeding your tank.
Is Wood Beneficial For Baby Plecos?
Yes, it is. I love having wood in my tanks because it provides a grazing area in my tank that the babies can eat on all day and night. Without me needing to feed them this or worry about ammonia spikes.
They eat the actual wood which has some nutrients in it but the process of the wood breaking down creates a whole ecosystem of small microbes that not only baby but adult plecos enjoy.
My two favorite kinds of wood to add to my tank are cholla wood and Malaysian driftwood.
I like cholla wood for two reasons. The first is that it is one of the cheaper woods that you can find in most pet shops including big box stores like Petco and Petsmart.
Second I like it because it’s fairly soft making it so that it sinks faster making it easier for your plecos to get to it. Also because it is softer it becomes edible for your plecos much quicker.
The reason Malaysian driftwood is one of my favorites is that it is a very dense wood.
With this wood being so dense it makes it last a really long time. Meaning your plecos can chew on it for a very long time. Which is good because it can be a little pricey.
I’ve had one piece for almost 5 years and it hardly looks any different. But I definitely know my plecos are eating it based on the poop in the tank.
Because of it being very dense it does take a long time to sink but other than that it’s a great option.
Can My Baby Plecos Eat Indian Almond Leaves?
Yes, you can. I would lump Indian almond leaves in the same category as wood.
With the benefit that it is extremely accessible for your baby plecos within a day or two. Because it essentially is just thin wood the whole process is quicker.
The leaves start breaking down faster so your baby plecos can eat it quickly and build good gut health at the same time.
Wood and Indian almond leaves have antifungal and antibacterial properties in them. Providing a healthier living environment for your baby plecos.
When wood or Indian almond leaves are introduced into your tank they will leach what is called tannins. These tannins are where the antifungal and antibacterial properties are.
The tannins may turn your water a little brown or tea colored. This is ok and nothing to worry about.
If you don’t like the color that’s fine. I don’t particularly like it. I like a crystal clear look to my tanks. Some people like it because they feel like it gives a very natural look to their tank.
If you don’t like it just do a water change a day or two later. Allowing the tannins to provide some benefit for your tank.
Can Baby Plecos Eat Baby Brine Shrimp?
Baby brine shrimp are packed with nutrients and protein that any baby fish will need to grow quickly and healthily.
I don’t generally feed my baby plecos brine shrimp for two reasons.
One is that I am fairly forgetful and so I sometimes forget to start a new batch of baby brine shrimp and then don’t have any for the next day or two.
The Second is that plecos aren’t generally hunters. They are generally foragers. Especially small baby plecos that almost any fish could fit in their mouth.
So you run into the problem that the baby plecos need to wait for the baby brine shrimp to sit still or die from being exposed to fresh water for a time.
If you are letting the brine shrimp die then you have to be extra careful to not overfeed and keep an eye on the water parameters to make sure the ammonia and nitrates don’t get too high.
If you are a more responsible person than me then it is a great option and will help your plecos grow fast.
Can Baby Plecos Eat Vegetables?
Yes, just like adult plecos, baby plecos can eat vegetables and love a fresh veggie or two.
Plecos love a wide variety of vegetables from zucchini to spinach. I have written several articles on what types I like and how to prepare them.
It’s super fun to see a pleco or group of plecos munch down on a veggie slowly making it disappear.
Any veggies the adults can eat baby plecos can eat too. Which makes it nice if you are raising the baby plecos in the same tank as the adults.
Can Baby Plecos Eat Protein And Algae Wafers?
Yes, baby plecos can eat protein and algae wafers but they aren’t a main food source I like to use with them.
I use them as supplementary food.
Most wafers regardless if they are protein or algae wafer tend to be on the hard side making it difficult for baby’s plecos to eat.
They definitely do have their place because they usually have a high density of nutrients in them. Which is very helpful.
I especially like using a high grade protein wafer because baby plecos will grow faster and stronger with a good protein in their diet.
Just make sure not to overfeed them on protein because this can lead to bloat and which can kill them.
In truth, baby plecos will eat almost anything and enjoy a wide variety of foods. The trick is finding foods that are easy for them to consume and that are high in nutrients. If you stick to these foods then you can’t go wrong.
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