There are several reasons why plecos and axolotls should not be kept together. They have different diets, water needs, and sizes.
Plecos need more space than axolotls to swim and grow. This will make your axolotl’s tank too small.
I quickly learned that small pieces of shrimp or earthworms were the best things to feed my axolotl. Pleco should only be an occasional treat as they are quite high in fat and contain little nutritional value for an axolotl. When I did give my axolotl a pleco treat, I would cut it into very small pieces and only give him a few at a time.
Overall, it’s important to understand your pet’s diet before feeding them something new like a pleco.
Can Axolotls Eat Pleco?
Algae, dead plants, uneaten fish food, and microscopic creatures are the diet of freshwater axolotls. Their diet includes both living and dead things.
They can eat meat, but a balanced diet with quality meat and seafood are essential. This food helps them stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight.
Axolotls and plecos need different water conditions, so they cannot live together. Axolotls lack a thick protective coat, so plecos chewing on other animals is not good for them.
Nutritional Content of Pleco
In the wild, plecos eat algae, residue, and other organic matter. For optimal growth in captivity, they must maintain a similar diet.
Plecos are fed a protein-rich pellet, live or freeze-dried bloodworms, and brine shrimp, algae wafers, or blanched vegetables in captivity. They also like additional wood.
Plecos thrive at 73–82°F (23–28°C).
Health Benefits and Risks of Pleco
In the wild, plecos eat small fish, worms, crustaceans, and invertebrates. In captivity, they can eat live or frozen brine shrimp, earthworms, bloodworms, or tubifex worms.
Commercial pellets or flakes can also be fed. To avoid overfeeding, monitor their intake.
Finally, properly condition your tank water. An aquarium water conditioner should be used to remove chlorine and chloramines from tap water.
Axolotls can become stressed by active water flow, so their tanks must have a steady flow. This will keep them healthy and happy.
Other Alternatives to Pleco
Axolotls are amphibians that hatch from jelly-like eggs into round bodies and long tails. They also breathe air through gill filaments.
Axolotls need a variety of foods to stay healthy and energetic due to their active metabolism. A tank is large enough for them, and their needs are also needed.
Ghost shrimp, translucent crustaceans that filter water can also be fed to axolotls. Aquarium stores sell them at low prices.
Conclusion about Eating Pleco
Plecos are great if you want a large aquarium fish that eats algae. They are entertaining to watch and keep your tank clean.
They can be territorial and aggressive, though. They may try to eat other fish if stressed or hungry.
They can injure or impale other fish by feeding on their slime coat, especially larger underfed plecos.
Plecos are great but should not be the only fish in your tank. Before adding it to your tank, check the species’ size, diet, water hardness, and pH.
