Do plecos need wood? Now this has to be one of the most commonly mentioned things within the pleco part of the aquarium hobby. First as always when talking about plecos I should specify, the Siluriforme (catfish) family known as Loricariidae. To set the first bit clear, the majority of this family do not utilise wood as anything more then a place to hide or a surface for food. This is quite clear as in the many gut content analysis studies wood is not found in them. So here we are talking about Panaque, Panaqolus, Hypostomus cochliodon group and maybe Lasiancistrus heteracanthicus (I’ve yet to certainly confirm that species).

For those wanting the major points I made this poster below with all references:

Another argument is that the wood is used for digestion, this is unlikely given only these genera are found with wood in their gut and whatever is in the wood is what they are digesting.

This is the best example of niche partitioning, with so many detritivores/algivores in the same area it means these genera are able to feed where others can’t. Is that not more interesting then them being xylovores?

So is wood worth it?

Yes, as a hiding place it is great. It can be great for growing different microbial films that the fish might feed on. In my experience those microbial films will be hit and miss if they do feed on them at all.

For those genera that find their food within the wood then there will be some behavioural enrichment by providing that wood so why not.

Why?

Does it matter? Yes because quite often these genera have not been fed and expected to survive on wood and the family in general, Loricariidae have a misconception as a clean up crew. I see this quite often leading to starvation, malnutrition and definitely stunting.

In general without that first point the presence or lack of a presence of wood is used to detract from the main reason a fish might be having issues. It is also spreading a myth, I cannot justify that.