Tetra Pleco Veggie Wafers, 250 ml is a fully plant-based premium food for fish that feed on the bottom. According to the description, it contains algae protein that meets the dietary needs of algae-eating fish and is enriched with fibre for easy digestion. Thanks to their firm texture, the wafers, according to the manufacturer, do not pollute the water. They sink and stay firm for a long time, so catfish can rasp at them with their sucker mouths.
Ingredients
Cereals, vegetable protein extracts, vegetable products, yeasts, algae, oils and fats, minerals.
Analysis: crude protein 30.0%, crude oils and fats 6.0%, crude fibre 5.0%, moisture 9.0%. Additives: vitamin A 28,790 IU/kg, vitamin D3 1790 IU/kg, manganese 81 mg/kg, zinc 48 mg/kg, iron 32 mg/kg; colourants and antioxidants.
There are no animal ingredients. Protein is moderate at 30%, and fibre higher than in ordinary foods at 5%, which is good for herbivorous catfish. However, algae come only fifth, after cereals, vegetable protein, vegetable products and yeasts.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | sinking plant wafers |
| For | herbivorous bottom feeders |
| Basis | 100% plant-based |
| Protein | 30% |
| Fibre | 5% |
| Fat | 6% |
| Volume | 250 ml |
Pros
- Fully plant-based. Exactly what bristlenose and other herbivorous catfish need.
- Moderate protein. 30% does not overload digestion.
- More fibre. 5% for easy digestion.
- Firm sinking wafers. They stay intact for a long time and cloud the water little.
- Large tub. 250 ml lasts a long time.
- No preservatives in the additive list. Only colourants and antioxidants are listed.
Cons and what to watch
- Algae are not first. The basis is cereals and vegetable protein.
- No feeding guide.
- Contains colourants.
- Not for carnivorous bottom feeders. Corydoras and loaches need food with animal protein.
- No wafer size. You may need to break them for small catfish.
How to feed
Add the wafers in the evening, before lights out, as most catfish are nocturnal. Give as much as is eaten overnight, and remove leftovers in the morning. For a single catfish in a small tank, half or a quarter of a wafer is enough. More in aquarium fish food: how to feed.
Who needs plant food
Bristlenose, sailfin plecos, otocinclus and other loricariid catfish graze algae and biofilm from stones and wood in the wild. They need plenty of plant food and fibre, while too much animal protein can upset their digestion. Pleco Veggie Wafers meet this need.
Veggie Wafers or Wafer Mix
Tetra also makes mixed Wafer Mix with shrimp and 45% protein for omnivorous bottom feeders and shrimp. Veggie Wafers are for herbivores. If your tank has both, you can feed both foods.
Adding to the diet
Besides wafers, herbivorous catfish benefit from blanched vegetables such as courgette, cucumber and spinach, and from driftwood, which many loricariids rasp at. For other plant-eating fish, spirulina foods such as TetraPro Algae suit, and for small cichlids Tetra Cichlid Algae Mini.
Catfish and clean water
Large catfish eat and excrete a lot, so a tank with them needs good filtration and regular water changes. If the water clouds, cut portions and check the filter; Tetra CrystalWater helps temporarily.
Algae in the tank
Bristlenose are often kept as algae "cleaners", but a tank rarely has enough algae to feed a catfish, so supplementary plant wafers are essential; otherwise it will start damaging plant leaves.
Storage
Keep the tub tightly closed in a cool, dry place. Use opened food within a few months so the vitamins do not degrade.
Who it suits
Tetra Pleco Veggie Wafers suit bristlenose, sailfin plecos, otocinclus and other herbivorous bottom feeders as a staple plant food. Other foods are in the fish food section.
Verdict
Tetra Pleco Veggie Wafers are fully plant-based sinking wafers for herbivorous bottom feeders with algae protein, 30% protein and 5% fibre, that hold their shape and cloud the water little. The downsides are that algae are not the first ingredient, there is no feeding guide or wafer size, the food contains colourants, and it does not suit carnivorous bottom feeders.
FAQ
Which fish is it for?
Herbivorous bottom feeders such as bristlenose and other loricariid catfish.
Does it contain animal ingredients?
No, it is fully plant-based.
How much protein?
30%.
How much fibre?
5%.
When should I feed?
Ideally in the evening, before lights out.
Is it suitable for corydoras?
They do better on food with animal protein, such as Wafer Mix.
What volume is it?
250 ml.
