new pleco

Question
hi, i have one goldfish and a new pleco catfish. they get a along really good but when it comes to feeding time my goldfish eats all the food what should i do. i plan on buying sinking pelets for my pleco is this a good call?

from,
matt

Answer
Good evening Matt, thank you for your question.

This is a common problem with goldfish - they're little piggies, aren't they? They only need to eat as much as their eye mass daily, but will happily eat 10x this amount!

They may leave the pellets alone, but chances are they will eventually catch on and see that you are dropping in something tasty after the lights go out. Plecos are nocturnal, so you should feed them after you turn off the lights. I recommend you feed your pleco slices of vegetables, weighed down with a magnetic clip. Squash, zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato, and romaine lettuce are all popular with plecos. Your goldfish may nip at it a bit too, but this is only beneficial for them. Read more here:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=294

And also here, for ideas on varying your goldfish's diet:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshmalnut.htm

I also recommend you look into Omega One's Super Veggie Pellet. They are much more nutritious than any sinking wafer I routinely encounter, with spirulina and kelp being the first few ingredients. Both your fish will benefit from it!

I hope that helps, take care.
Nicole