The need for wood in a plecs diet

xingumike · Post by **xingumike** » 31 Mar 2008, 15:41

Evening all,

Whilst i accept that the Panaque group, H cochlidon complex and L092 (and possibly a few others i may have missed) should all have wood present in thier diet, would i be right in saying that no other plecs need wood in the tank?

I always use it as it a) provides something for Aufwuchs to grow on, b) provides natural cover and territory and c) looks nice to my eye, but to state that ALL plecs need it is incorrect imho.

Fibre can be provided with an one or more of a host of vegetable matter for herbivores and omnivores, and from what i understand carnis will be very hit and miss for even eating any vegetable matter.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 31 Mar 2008, 17:46

Wood may not be essential for all plecos but all plecos show a definite affinity for wood.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 31 Mar 2008, 20:06

Certainly Ancistrus seem to like chewing on wood, and like Larry says, there are plenty of species that like sitting on and scraping off any edibles.

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Mats

xingumike · Post by **xingumike** » 31 Mar 2008, 20:12

Whilst i agree with this (i have kept both ancistrus and the true wood eating genus Panaque), to say that all plecs need wood in their diet is incorrect surely?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 31 Mar 2008, 20:28

xingumike wrote:Whilst i agree with this (i have kept both ancistrus and the true wood eating genus Panaque), to say that all plecs need wood in their diet is incorrect surely?

Yes, I wouldn't say they REQUIRE wood to survive, but they seem to like having a bit of wood, bamboo or similar in the tank.

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Mats

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 01 Apr 2008, 23:34

Some pterygoplichthini apparently have limited wood digesting capabilities as well. A great deal of these animals ingest wood and wood like debris just as a side note from foraging. It can't hurt, but I wouldn't say it would be necessary by any means.

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 02 Apr 2008, 07:39

Jon wrote:Some pterygoplichthini apparently have limited wood digesting capabilities as well. A great deal of these animals ingest wood and wood like debris just as a side note from foraging. It can't hurt, but I wouldn't say it would be necessary by any means.

Perdsonally, based on this info, I would assume they use the wood to assist the digestion - just as we need fibers (instead of steak)

The need for wood in a plecs diet

The need for wood in a plecs diet

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