Yes, plecos can starve. You will know your plecos are starving if their bellies seem hollow and see-through. With that said, plecos are quite hardy and can survive 10 to 14 days without food. However, going that long without food can stunt their growth, stress them out, and cause various diseases.
Most plecos starve because their owners wrongly believe plecos can live off algae alone. This is a dangerous myth because plecos still need food to thrive. Feed your plecos one to three times a week at night. Try feeding your plecos:
- Algae wafers or tablets
- Sinking pellets
- Earthworms
- Brine shrimps
- Frozen bloodworms
- Vegetables
