Why is my Pleco trying to attach itself to the side of my fish ? (Updated 12-21)

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

QUESTION:  I have been noticing lately that one of my pleco's is trying to attach itself to the side of some of my fish... Has anyone every experienced this before and should I be worried ?

[rcombs]

Lack of food? It's going after the slime coat. Your tank super clean?

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Yeah it is a new set up, OK I will put some cucumber in the tank - Thanks

[four_by_ken]

Forget cucumbers,  no nutrition.

Zucchini is where it's at.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I do not have any of either, so I forked several romaine leaves and just dropped them in the tank....

[LoveTheFishies]

Mine will also eat sweet potato slices

[Marty]

Zucchini or spirulina flake will usually do the trick.

Also, some species of plecos are carnivores 

[rcombs]

Yeah it is a new set up, OK I will put some cucumber in the tank - Thanks

Your welcome. Had same issue on one of my new setups. Good thing my fish were to small and zippy for pleco to get good hold of.

[linuxrulesusa]

Which pleco is it, out of curiosity?

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Which pleco is it, out of curiosity?

Here is a couple of pics:

What is the best additive for adding back the slim coat to my fish ? (API Stress Coat Water Conditioner)

[four_by_ken]

I think just common pleco.

They slime coat will come back once the stress is removed.  Personally I wouldn't add anything.

Fish injured?

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I think just common pleco.

They slime coat will come back once the stress is removed.  Personally I wouldn't add anything.

Fish injured?

I've noticed that some of the fish have lost their shine, they look dull..  I did add some plecocaine (pleco wafers) when I first set up the tank but one of my bigger fish eat it and when I woke up the next morning he died....

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Zucchini or spirulina flake will usually do the trick.

Also, some species of plecos are carnivores 

While at Stevens last week, I told him about losing a fish, he asked what I was feeding them, I said pellets (Plecocaine # 3 and # 4).  He said that he only feeds his fish flakes, including spirulina..  I do have some flakes I got from Wet Thumb so I have been feeding them that lately and doing the pellets sporadically for a treat...

QUESTION:  are you supposed to soak the pellets before feeding them to the fish ? 

[four_by_ken]

Zucchini or spirulina flake will usually do the trick.

Also, some species of plecos are carnivores 

While at Stevens last week, I told him about losing a fish, he asked what I was feeding them, I said pellets (Plecocaine # 3 and # 4).  He said that he only feeds his fish flakes, including spirulina..  I do have some flakes I got from Wet Thumb so I have been feeding them that lately and doing the pellets sporadically for a treat...

QUESTION:  are you supposed to soak the pellets before feeding them to the fish ?

I did a TON a researching if you remember about a year ago when I was having troubles.  I feed spirulina and NLS pellets.  The flake is just a good food.  But, as my fish continue to grow... dang, they need a LOT of flake food.

So, I start with flake food and then put in some NLS.  I tested the foods I had around the house by soaking them in water... the NLS was the only one that hardly swelled up at all.  This is why I stick with it.

I feed the 1mm pellets to all the tanks, except the one with the larger fish in it.  That I use the 2mm pellets.  Just recently started adding the Medium Fish size pellets (I forgot the size).

Knowing how much you feed your fish... test whatever pellets you are using and see if they swell in water.

[four_by_ken]

A 5" Livingstoni will eat a LOT of flake food.