Concerned about Pleco mand artificial driftwood and other ornaments...

Okay, right now I haven't added any plecos but I do have a piece of artificial driftwood and two 'fish castles" in the tank, and I'm concerned because even though the castles are rated as safe for aquariums, I noticed paint flaking off of them the last time I cleaned them.
Also, I'm worried the pleco may think the artificial driftwood is real and try to eat it?
P.S. If these are inappropriate ornaments, then what else can I put in the tank in addition to real driftwood?

If the paint is flaking then I wouldn't risk it. Theres a few things you could use, terracotta, slate, a lot of different rocks, could make a rock pile ornament(as long as its not likely to fall), wood and make a wood tangle. The options seem pretty endless lol

yes I would remove things which are flaking. they wont eat plastic ornamenst as such and will know whats not wood - but they will graze on them to eat algae from the surface and in so doing could ingest some plastic.
so try and get some suitable wood. (from shop or log pile- use well dead dried wood from known trees such as oak or beech.) and some flowerpots whole or broken pieces propped up, terracotta, are ok for shelters

Doodles said:

If the paint is flaking then I wouldn't risk it. Theres a few things you could use, terracotta, slate, a lot of different rocks, could make a rock pile ornament(as long as its not likely to fall), wood and make a wood tangle. The options seem pretty endless lol

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Irene0100 said:

yes I would remove things which are flaking. they wont eat plastic ornamenst as such and will know whats not wood - but they will graze on them to eat algae from the surface and in so doing could ingest some plastic.
so try and get some suitable wood. (from shop or log pile- use well dead dried wood from known trees such as oak or beech.) and some flowerpots whole or broken pieces propped up, terracotta, are ok for shelters

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Thanks everybody!
I think I may use a rockpile glued together with aquarium silicone for a shelter, I was hoping to collect some driftwood from the beach near where I live, But after the oil spill I don't think I should risk it..

can you oak and dry it out? cut some branches?

Irene0100 said:

can you oak and dry it out? cut some branches?

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I was thinking about looking for some dead oak limbs, if possible, and boiling them to remove anything harmful.
What I really wanted was some dead roots..
Maybe I'll look near a river?:dk: