is it weird if my new baby seems to prefer to eat the algae wafers i've been dropping for my pleco? they aren't bad for him, are they?

ope, it is still fish food....eventually, your o will eat the normal
oscar food.... but if he/she is happy with those wafer, go ahead.

Actually they would be quite benificial. The main ingredient in algae wafers is fish meal which is the same as many other pellets. The algae will help with the digestive system for your oscar.

bowhunter wrote:


only if your buyin shitty wafers... the good ones the main ingredient is spirulina algae... which is actually algae. its also one of the most nutritious substances on the planet. if your algae wafers first ingredient is not algae, then your feeding algae flavored fishmeal wafers instead of a genuine algae wafer. switch over and watch your fishs quality of health improve. its also better for your water quality imo.

mine does aswell he just eats what goes in the tank fingers mostly

rarely my o will eat an algea chip. usually it hits whatever goes in the tank, but most of the time it will spit out the algae wafer. my buddies pacu tank those wafers never make it to the bottom of the tank for the pleco lol.

I wouldnt worry too much about your oscars eating algae wafers. The problem is your algae eaters not getting food. If they are nocturnal then put the wafers in after dark when your tank and home lights are out

thank you all so much for your responses!

jasper is eating pellets out of my hand now. it took him about a week, but once he figured out that i would stand by the tank and "play" with him while i fed him the pellets, he switched over in a hurry.

and i took your advice and i'm dropping the pellets when i go to bed, nightly. since i'm sleeping, i can't tell if the pleco is the one eating them. i guess i can only assume.

Actually all my fish like the wafers, even my Spotted Gar...

taybaybay. wrote:


If you have a plec in a tank without fish that eat algae wafers and you drop one in you will see the plec come over to the wafer and start eating it. Its like they can smell it. As an alternative you can put slices or cucumber or courgette in the tank for the plec. I have never done this but have heard of it done. I wouldnt recommend leaving them in for too long tho, you dont want to foul the water

I feed my plecos a qarter of a zuchinni every day and only have to remove a tiny slice that's left in the morning.
Mind you all my fish like it, except for my Oscar and Gar.
My Vieja fights my Pleco for the zuchinni. My former goldfish and carp liked it very much too.
If your water is below 25oC, the zuchinni will stay hard for a long time.
If your water is above 25oC, the zuchinni will turn into pulp within 24 hours, and remaints have to be removed or will clog your filter very quickly.