26/09/2018
Check out this Loricariid catfish feeding guide (also adding to the Notes section), to see which types of foods are best for your pets. You might be surprised to see which ones they go for, if you give them choices.
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--- LORICARIID CATFISH FEEDING GUIDE:
Vegetarian - a vegetable and detritus diet.
Veg-Omnivore - A mix with mainly vegetarian diet, but some meaty food mixed in.
Omni-Carnivore - A mostly carnivore with some vegetarian content.
Carnivore - nearly all meaty foods.
Wood-eater - chews the surface of wood for food. It is yet unclear if these fishes actually digest the wood itself, or if the get their energy from the combination of already part-digested wood and the micro-organisms living on the wood itself.
Genus Category
Acanthicus Veg-Omnivore
Acestridium Vegetarian
Ancistrini Omnivore, however could be any category
Ancistrus Vegetarian
Aphanotorulus Vegetarian
Aposturisoma Veg-Omnivore
Baryancistrus Vegetarian
Brochiloricaria Omnivore
Chaetostoma Vegetarian
Cordylancistrus Omnivore
Corumbataia Omnivore
Corymbophanes Omnivore
Crossoloricaria Omnivore
Cteniloricaria Omnivore
Dekeyseria Vegetarian
Delturus Vegetarian
Dolichancistrus Veg-Omnivore
Epactionotus Vegetarian
Exastilithoxus Carnivore
Farlowella Vegetarian
Guyanancistrus Veg-Omnivore
Gymnotocinclus Vegetarian
Harttia Veg-Omnivore
Hemiancistrus Omnivore
Hemiodontichthys Veg-Omnivore
Hemipsilichthys Veg-Omnivore
Hisonotus Vegetarian
Hopliancistrus Carnivore
Hypancistrus Carnivore
Hypoptopoma Vegetarian
Hypostomus Veg-Omnivore
Hypostomus(Cochliodon) Woodeater
Isbrueckerichthys Veg-Omnivore
Isorineloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Kronichthys Vegetarian
Lamontichthys Veg-Omnivore
Lampiella Veg-Omnivore
Lasiancistrus Veg-Omnivore
Leporacanthicus Carnivore
Leptoancistrus Veg-Omnivore
Limatulichthys Omnivore
Lithogenes Veg-Omnivore
Lithoxus Carnivore
Loricaria Omnivore
Loricarichthys Omnivore
Megalancistrus Omnivore
Metaloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Nannoptopoma Vegetarian
Neblinichthys Omnivore
Neoplecostomus Vegetarian
Niobichthys Omnivore
Oligancistrus Carnivore
Otocinclus Vegetarian
Otothyris Vegetarian
Oxyropsis Vegetarian
Panaque Woodeater
Paraloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Parancistrus Omnivore
Pareiorhaphis Vegetarian
Pareiorhina Omnivore
Parotocinclus Vegetarian
Peckoltia Omni-Carnivore
Planiloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Pogonopoma Veg-Omnivore
Pseudacanthicus Omni-Carnivore
Pseudancistrus Carnivore
Pseudohemiodon Omnivore
Pseudolithoxus Omni-Carnivore
Pseudoloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Pseudorinelepis Vegetarian
Pseudotothyris Vegetarian
Pterosturisoma Veg-Omnivore
Pterygoplichthys Vegetarian
Pyxiloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Rhadinoloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Rhinelepis Vegetarian
Rineloricaria Veg-Omnivore
Schizolecis Vegetarian
Scobinancistrus Omnivore
Spatuloricaria Carnivore
Spectracanthicus Omni-Carnivore
Squaliforma Veg-Omnivore
Sturisoma Veg-Omnivore
Sturisomatichthys Veg-Omnivore
--- https://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=426
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"The best approach with all the Loricariidae is to default to assuming they won't survive by only eating algae from the glass! That's the commonest way newbies starve them to death. Then make the point they aren't simply scavengers, either, and can't survive on leftovers alone. Once you get past these, everything else is shades of grey. They'll all eat some softened vegetables, some bloodworms, and some meaty foods. All of them like Hikari algae wafers, and will actually do really well on a diet based around that sort of dried food. It's really just about optimising the diet a bit where you need to think carefully. Panaque and Hypostomus need wood, Otocinclus need green algae, Acanthicus need more meaty foods, and so on." --- Neale Monks
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It seems that this table is not quite correct in some cases, but could be helpful in a general sort of way.
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Acanthicus:
"Very much a generalist or opportunist feeder, this species is happy with most good quality aquarium foods, and will also eat many other foods as offered to other loricariid catfish, from fruit and vegetables through to molluscs, crustaceans and even pieces of fish. They do graze wood, although whether this is a requirement or whether it is just as part of their general grazing is not known..."
"...offer a varied diet comprising dried, frozen and live foods including sinking tablets, wafers, slices of fruit and vegetables plus meatier fare such as bloodworm, earthworms, prawns, cockles and lancefish. In nature it is reputed to occur close to settlements and feed on human refuse/organic waste at some localities." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/acanthicus-hystrix/
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Ancistrus:
"Does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus some fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc.
Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients."
--- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/ancistrus-cf-cirrhosus/
"It is thought that elements in bogwood, particularly lignin, may form an essential part of Bristlenose diet. Certainly they have the immensely long guts common to vegetarians, and although they fall avidly on the occasional meal of live food or prawns, the bulk of their diet must be composed of vegetable matter. If a high protein diet is fed constantly, then they will become prone to stomach disorders. Vegetable roughage keeps the gut in working order, and bogwood is a valuable addition to this.
Fry will feed from free-swimming on the same diet as parents. It may help to blanch vegetables when feeding young fry, as it helps them rasp off the food stuff."
--- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=49
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Baryancistrus:
"An omnivorous grazer of biofilm. Shows a fondness for sweet potato and algae wafers. Feed a varied diet to keep this fish healthy, including a large proportion of vegetable matter." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=31
"... composed chiefly of algae, particularly diatoms and filamentous genera such as Spirogyra alongside smaller amounts of invertebrates such as chironomids and bryozoans.
In the aquarium aufwuchs should thus be allowed to colonise all surfaces except the viewing pane in order that the fish can browse naturally although the diet should of course be supplemented with high-quality sinking dried foods (preferably with added vegetable content), live or frozen bloodworm and similar, plus slices of fresh fruit and vegetables and the occasional defrosted prawn or shrimp." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/baryancistrus-sp-l142/
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Chaestoma:
"It’s omnivorous, so offer plenty of greenstuffs, such as blanched spinach, courgette and cucumber slices, etc. and live and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. It will also take algae wafers and other dried foods." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/chaetostoma-sp/
"Omnivore. Will eat algae and small live or frozen food. Some individuals can be weaned onto pellet food although this usually takes some effort and trial and error on the part of the aquarist."
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Crossocheilus
"In nature Crossocheilus species are aufwuchs grazers feeding on algae, diatoms and other phytoplankton, plus associated microorganisms. The use of high-protein foods in the aquarium should therefore be avoided as the fish are unable to metabolise some components efficiently; regular, prolonged consumption can result in excessive deposits of fat and even organ degeneration.
A good quality dried product(s) with added Spirulina or similar is ideal but plenty of fresh vegetable matter should also be included in the diet. Shelled peas, blanched courgette, spinach and chopped fruit all make good additions to the menu. Once settled into the aquarium the fish sometimes ascend into midwater to feed and in a set-up as described above will often be seen browsing the biofilm that tends to form on the rockwork..." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/crossocheilus-langei/
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Dekeyseria:
"Tablet food, vegetarian foods, wood and insect larvae." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=983
"An algae eater that will require a constant vegetable foods along with the usual pleco fare." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=706 (Dekeyseria brachyura AKA L168, Butterfly Pleco)
"Primarily vegetarian, so the bulk of the diet should be composed of vegetable matter in both fresh (cucumber slices, blanched spinach etc.) and dried (algae wafers, spirulina tablets etc.) forms. It will accept small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm or daphnia and these can also be offered regularly." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/dekeyseria-brachyura/
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Farlowella
"Primarily vegetarian, so the bulk of the diet should be composed of vegetable matter in both fresh (cucumber slices, kale, blanched spinach etc.) and dried (algae wafers, spirulina tablets etc.) forms. It will accept small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm or daphnia and these should also be offered occasionally, although never as a main component of the diet.
This species will continually graze surfaces of plant leaves, wood, rock, the substrate and tank walls. It is an excellent consumer of diatoms and common green algae but will not eat troublesome algae like brush or beard..."
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"Green and soft brown algae, cucumber and lettuce..." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=330
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Garra:
"Although it will graze algae if available this species is not an exclusive herbivore. Offer meaty foods such as live or frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, Artemia, chopped prawn, etc., along with good quality, sinking dried products, at least some of which should contain a significant proportion of vegetable matter such as Spirulina or similar.
Fresh fruit and vegetables such as cucumber, melon, blanched spinach or courgette can be offered occasionally and home-made, gelatine-bound recipes containing a mixture of dried fish food, puréed shellfish, fresh fruit and vegetables, for example, are also proven to work well."
--- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/garra-flavatra/
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Hemiancistrus:
"Feeds on aufwuchs and small aquatic crustaceans in nature. In the aquarium it proves omnivorous and will accept sinking dried foods, vegatable matter including blanched spinach or spirulina, and live and frozen fare such as bloodworm or daphnia."
--- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hemiancistrus-sp/
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Hypancistrus ---
"Unlike the popular opinion of many other loricariids, H. zebra is more of a carnivore than an algae eater. This is backed up by a small and lightly toothed mouth that indicates it is a poor algae eater. Provide mainly meaty foods such as bloodworm and even brineshrimp." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=168
"Wild specimens are probably omnivorous but with a preference for aquatic invertebrates and other small animals.
In the aquarium it should be offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, plus some fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hypancistrus-inspector/
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Hypoptopoma: (Sometimes called Nannoptopoma)
"Hypoptopoma are small(ish) loricariids with a stocky body with a wide, flattened, head with the eyes on the side of the head and a concave profile, with a normal (not extremely thin) tail... Taking large amounts of vegetation. A high metabolic rate means that they require large volumes of food that will not pollute.
Habitat: Assumed to live among shoreside vegetation and wood... Don’t house with other loricariids that would compete for food.
--- https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/articles/Robocop%20catfish,%20Nannoptopoma%20sp.%20Robocop
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Hypostomus:
"H. plecostomoides is primarily a xylophagus (wood-eating) species and will not do well without access to wood as a food source. In scientific studies the intestines of the fish have found to be completely filled with wood chips and the fish have specialised bacteria in the gut that help with the digestion of it. It also enjoys munching on greenery such as cucumber, courgette, blanched spinach etc. and will also accept sinking dried foods."
--- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hypostomus-plecostomoides/ (H. plecostomoides)
"A true omnivore that will eat anything. The diet should be primarily vegetarian." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=580 (H. plecostomus)
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Leporanthicus:
"These prefer a meatier diet, which can consist of live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, chopped mussel and prawn and sinking dried foods. Algae and other vegetable matter is also taken though, and regular feeds of greenstuffs like cucumber or courgette are recommended." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/leporacanthicus-triactis/ (L. triactis AKA Three Beacon Plec )
"Not a true vegetarian so a wide variety of foods, including algae wafers, cucumber or courgette (zucchini), frozen bloodworm, prawns, shrimps and tablet food. Shelled crustaceans or mollusks appear favourite foods but should be fed sparingly or used for conditioning." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=1797 (L. galaxias AKA Galaxy Pleco)
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Megalancistrus:
"Intestinal analyses of wild specimens have shown it to feed chiefly on freshwater sponges and other aquatic invertebrates alongside smaller quantities of wood, although it’s unclear whether the latter is an essential part of the diet or ingested unintentionally while the fish are foraging.
In the aquarium it does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc.
Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients."
--- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/megalancistrus-parananus/ (M. parananus AKA M. sp. L113)
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Otocinclus:
"It feeds primarily on algae and other microrganisms in nature. In captivity the bulk of the diet should be composed of vegetable matter in both fresh (courgette and cucumber slices, blanched spinach etc.) and dried (algae wafers, spirulina tablets etc.) forms. Although it will also accept small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm or daphnia, take care not to feed these too often, as it doesn’t require a great deal of protein in the diet." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/otocinclus-macrospilus/ (O. macrospilus AKA Oto Catfish)
"Initially algae, add a shoal to an ''algaefied'' tank and then supplement diet with sinking tablets and the usual cucumbers / lettuce or courgette (zucchini)." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=107 (Otocinclus vittatus AKA Common Otocinclus)
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Panaqolus:
"A wood-eating fish, the tank should be decorated with several different types of driftwood. These fish really like to have something to chew on. Squash, cucumber, and other vegetables should be readily available to them (yams are a favourite). Supplement two to three times weekly with frozen foods." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=734
"This species is xylophagous (feeds primarily on wood) therefore must be provided with a selection of driftwood in its aquarium, and this can be supplemented by proprietary dried products designed for wood-eating fishes.
It should not be offered meaty foods as it’s unable to digest them efficiently." --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/peckoltia-sp-l403/
"Pleco do not digest wood they eat the organisms that live in the rotting wood... Since we cannot provide these organisms in the quantity required to sustain life in a Aquarium we need to supplement their diet with other things..." ---https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31757
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Parancistrus
"An omnivore that eats most vegetarian foods, tablets and pellets, frozen meaty foods like bloodworm or brineshrimp and will lightly chew on soft wood."
https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=82 (Parancistrus aurantiacus AKA "Chubby Pleco")
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Parotocinclus:
"Mainly vegetarian. It will make gravel roll between its lips to remove organic matters. It accepts vegetables, or commercially prepared food such as Spirulina tabs. It will eat, once in a while, animal protein such as bloodworm but this should not be the bulk of the main diet." ---https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=236 (Parotocinclus jumbo AKA LDA025, "Pitbull Pleco")
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Peckoltia: "Omnivorous with a tendency towards meaty foods. Not an effective algae eater. Well fed individuals will not damage most plants."
--- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?task=&species_id=764 (Peckoltia braueri AKA L121, "Worm Line Peckoltia")
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Pterygoplichthys:
"An adaptible omnivore that will eat a variety of foods, besides being a very good algae eater, supplement diet with sinking pellet foods and algae wafers. Vegetables and freeze dried foods also accepted... All but the most robust of plants tend to be eaten or uprooted. Flat stones and bogwood are required to construct caves. Will even eat floating plants." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=80 (Pterygoplichthys scrophus AKA "Chocolate Pleco", "Alligator Pleco", "Rhino Pleco")
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Pseudacanthicus:
"Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet."
--- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=810 (Pseudacanthicus leopardus AKA LDA073)
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QuoteRineloricaria:
"Omnivorous and will accept both sinking dried foods, vegetable matter including blanched spinach, courgette, kale etc., and live and frozen stuff such as bloodworm or daphnia. --- http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/rineloricaria-sp/ (Rineloricaria sp. L010A AKA Red Lizard Whiptail)
"Adaptable omnivores, these fish will eat most foods from cucumber or zucchini slices to frozen bloodworm or dry flake foods." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=747 (Rineloricaria sp. L010A AKA Red Lizard Whiptail)
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Scobiancistrus:
"Sinking pellets and frozen bloodworm are ideal although all prepared foods that reach the bottom are accepted. Larger individuals will tackle whole king prawns and mussels with relish. Will eat garden snails and the first breeder of this genus feed their fishes meat and veg in the form of pumpkin. An omnivore that will eat most things and shares with the wood-eating plecos the unusual habit of eating the skin of vegetables before the flesh."
--- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=161 (Scobinancistrus aureatus AKA L014, "Sunshine Pleco"
"Goldie Pleco")
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Spectracanthicus:
"Omnivore. A varied diet with both vegetable and other foods such as tablet and frozen."
--- https://www.scotcat.com/loricariidae/oligancistrus_sp_l30.htm (Spectracanthicus punctatissimus AKA Oligancistrus sp. L030)
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Sturisoma:
"Eats "aufwuchs" from stones and driftwood in it's natural habitat. It is thought that it may also scrape of some wood to aid digestion." --- https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=444 (Sturisoma nigrirostrum AKA Whiptail Pleco)
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