Why can't you eat the pleco? Just look at its feeding habits and you'll understand

The pleco, also known as the suckermouth catfish, is a common fish in rivers. Because of its attractive appearance, it is widely kept as an ornamental fish, but because it is omnivorous and has almost no natural predators in China, many people kill it on sight. So why can't you eat the pleco? What does it eat to grow?

1. Introduction to the pleco:

1. Why do plecos die?

The pleco is a nocturnal fish. During the day it likes to hide in dark places, and only comes out at night to forage. If the tank is especially clean and there are no algae or fish food for it to nibble on, it will starve to death. Therefore, before turning off the lights each day, you can feed them some fish food. In addition, it has high temperature requirements. When changing the water, the temperature difference between the old and new water should preferably not exceed 3°C, and you should not pour water directly onto the fish. For water used to keep plecos, it is best to choose weakly acidic soft water or neutral water. Furthermore, plecos are not tolerant of salt. You must not add salt to a tank where plecos are kept, as adding salt can easily cause the pleco to die.

2. What is the pleco's natural predator?

Because they are an invasive species, there are currently no natural predators for them in China. They can easily reproduce in large numbers in rivers, posing a threat to the survival of native fish and damaging the ecological chain.

2. Why can't you eat the pleco?

The pleco is native to Latin America. In its place of origin it can grow very large, and it is an edible fish that is not poisonous. However, it is actually an armored fish, with a hard outer shell and many bones but little meat, and its nutritional value is low. Moreover, because it likes to eat filthy food, its belly contains many bacteria and it has a fishy, foul smell, so it is generally not recommended for consumption.

The pleco was introduced into China as an ornamental fish. They are relatively easy to keep and the breeding cost is low, so many people like them. However, because they are an exotic species, after being released they have no natural predators in our country and reproduce in large numbers. They also like to eat the eggs of other fish, and can eat 3000 to 5000 eggs a day, affecting the reproduction of other fish. In some areas of southern China, they have already become an overrunning disaster and are one of the invasive species, so when keeping them, never release them.

3. What does the pleco eat to grow?

The pleco is an omnivorous aquarium creature. It often attaches itself to aquarium walls or aquatic plants, licking up algae, the mucus that fish secrete on the tank walls, and leftover food debris left by the fish, and it will even swallow fish eggs. When keeping them, the bait can be mainly algae, but during the keeping process you also need to feed live food, such as tubifex worms. The pleco never eats fish excrement or feces; this is an indisputable fact.

The above is the relevant introduction to why you can't eat the pleco and what it eats to grow. We hope it is helpful to everyone.