Blue Phantom question

[Jexnell]

So I recently got this guy for my Oscar tank.


In the first week he ate all the leaves on my swordtails.

So my question is, are there any plants that I can get that he wont eat up. I moved some Java fern from my Dempsey tank and he has not touched it so far. Are there any other plants people have discovered that the Blue Phantom wont gobble down.

 

[BIG-G]

What are you feeding the blue phantom? If its belly is full it will help keep it from munching on your plants as much.
I have a green phantom in a planted tank and have no problems.
Your may try some anubias, I don't think to many species will eat it either.

 

[Jexnell]

I feed it algea wafers, a sinking bottom feeder shrimp pellets and attempted some green beans and zucchini. He didnt touch the zucchini and the Oscar ended up eating the green beans.

 

[BIG-G]

It will definitely need some vegetables in its diet that's probably one reason it's going for the plants.
Keep trying the zucchini it may take time for it to find it and figure out what's going on. You can also try pumpkin, yellow squash, sweet potatoes. And cucumber.
Just put it in the tank near a place where the pleco feels safe and whatever spot you pick be sure to stick with that spot. It makes it easier for the fish to find.
Mine will be coming out to climb on the vegetables as I'm removing my hand from the tank he knows when I add food and where to find it because I put it in the same place every time.

 

[Jexnell]

Will keep trying then, saw in a post how to make a device to keep it in one place for the pleco can get to it easier. That was probably part of the problem was the zucchini floating around the bottom of the tank, and the Oscar trying to eat it as well.

 

[BIG-G]

Yeah some just use a fork to poke it on and sink it. I rubber band mine to rock

 

[thefredpit]

I stick a butter knife in it

 

[Jexnell]

If I didn't mention he has this chunk of driftwood as well

 

[DHarris]

When I first got hooked on plecos I had them in a 37 gallon planted, didn't work out well.
I've since upgraded to a 150 gallon and have tried a lot of different plants.

At this point the only ones that have seemed to work are java fern, crypts and val. That said, the val tends to get beat up and breaks apart. Crypts have been the best for me.
I've got many herbivorous and wood eating plecos and so far so good.

 

[Jexnell]

Thanks a lot for the tip, I was looking at vals but I think I will go with your tip and use java fern and crypts. This weekend I am going over to The Wetspot and will be picking up a few more plants for both of my tanks.