Fresh Vegetables

[1Brotherbill]

I have read on different sites that Pleco's like fresh vegetables from time to time. I have never gotten them to eat anything outside of an algae tablet. I have tried Zuchini and Lettuce leaves but they just don't care about it either way. Is this odd or do Pleco's like vegetation outside of Algae?

[LosC]

I think it all depends on the Pleco itself. I have a rubbernose that won't eat the vegetables I give it but then there's people who hav Rubbernoses that eat all kinds of veggies.

[smaug]

I have never given veggies such as that to mine.I have fed them peas and they love it.I have heard people mention blanching the veggies first,maybe that makes them softer and more pallatable?

[ladyoutlaw50]

I have a common pleco in with some african cichlids -- I give them treats of peas and what they don't finish up -- he takes care of -- same with romain lettuce. Have not put anything else in there.

[1Brotherbill]

I never thought of Peas. Might have to give that a try. Supposedly my turtle is suppose to snack on veggies from time to time as well but I have never gotten her to eat anything outside of the store bought food and an occasional guppy.

[doug z]

Lettuce (preferably anything BUT iceburg lettuce) you should blanch before putting in the tank..

Have you tried spinach?

[angelcakes]

i use cucumber.........my pleco loves it:19:

[smcurry83]

I have two common plecos in an mbuna tank. They all (everyone in the tank) love peas, cucumber and zucini. I haven't tried lettuce yet. By the way, what is blanching???

[Algenco]

I have two common plecos in an mbuna tank. They all (everyone in the tank) love peas, cucumber and zucini. I haven't tried lettuce yet. By the way, what is blanching???

drop it in boiling water for a couple minutes

[KingFisher]

My common Pleco likes to eat raw Zucchini, but he sometimes doesn't get to it unless I leave it in the tank overnight. When I check in the morning, I notice that it has been partially eaten, and then he will occasionally return to it throughout the day.

[donvichu]

Somehow my pleco seems to be happy to eat reminder of beefheart and arowana pellets that sink down,is it alright or should I give him a different diet?

[Algenco]

A lot of "plecos" only eat algae as juveniles and become meat eaters as adults

[Lady Hobbs]

I feel bad for my featherfins because I don't see them eat anything but blood worms now and then and algae waffers. I have tried them numerous times on blanched spinach, romane lettuce, cukes, squash.........I think they spend too much time getting fattened up on flake food I'm giving the silver dollars. Their growth is far from stunted!

[smaug]

Somehow my pleco seems to be happy to eat reminder of beefheart and arowana pellets that sink down,is it alright or should I give him a different diet?
My sailfin leopard is very much a meat eater as well as plant matter.

[angelcakes]

My sailfin leopard is very much a meat eater as well as plant matter.
same as my pleco he loves his meat............aswell as plants:19:

[smcurry83]

I'm not an expert, this is just a thought of mine, but wouldn't blanching the vegetables take out most of the nutrients???

[1Brotherbill]

I also heard that if you give them veggi's with a hard rind you should slice the rind so it doesn't get caught on there gills.

I also heard if you microwave the veggi's for a few seconds they become softer. Does this work the same as blanching?

[donvichu]

I'm not an expert, this is just a thought of mine, but wouldn't blanching the vegetables take out most of the nutrients???


Blanching does take out 80% nutrient out of it,sad:c2:

[smcurry83]

That's what I thought. So all I do is peel cucmber and zucini. The peas just go in as is...

[fastfly]

While boiling veggies does take out nutrients blanching does not change the nutrient contents by a whole lot and sometimes not at all.


You only put the veggies in boiling water for a extremely short period and then dunking the veggies in ice water.

[Dave66]

drop it in boiling water for a couple minutes

Until al dente, Algenco. You don't want them to boil them to mushy.

Dave

[Algenco]

Until al dente, Algenco. You don't want them to boil them to mushy.

Dave


What I found with my bristelnose , I place 4 leaves of Romaine lettuce in about 3 cups water, microwave for 3 minutes.
If I only cook for 2 minutes they will not touch it for 24 hrs, at a 3 minute cook they are on it within minutes.

[johnl]

I have a Snow King Plec, a BN, and a Clown plec and they all love veggies. I feed them lettuce (no iceberg), Zucchini, mushrooms, melon, cucumber, and peppers. The veggies are placed in the tank at lights out and stay in overnight. I don't blanch them but I do remove the seeds. I think you will find that most plecos will eat veggies and it is an important part of their diet as most are omnivorous.

[Bassinkorea]

Most of the time I will have 1, 2 or 3 crawfish in my tank and I will cut some ham into tiny cubes for them. Then I found out that my pleco LOVES ham. He picks up the cubes of ham and rolls them around in his mouth.

I'll have to try some veggies!!

[Bassinkorea]

I've just tried putting some ham and cucumber in my tank for my pleco. The cucumber just floats on the top and my pleco can't find it. I seen a photo somewhere around here of somebodies pleco eating cucumber on the botttom of the tank.

How do I get the cucumber to sink to the bottom ??

The ham went straight to the bottom and he has been eating it....he loves ham.

[Dave66]

I've just tried putting some ham and cucumber in my tank for my pleco. The cucumber just floats on the top and my pleco can't find it. I seen a photo somewhere around here of somebodies pleco eating cucumber on the botttom of the tank.

How do I get the cucumber to sink to the bottom ??

The ham went straight to the bottom and he has been eating it....he loves ham.

You can spear the cucumber with a clean teaspoon to sink it, or use this (http://www.screwcumber.com/), which is a better idea.

Dave

[Bassinkorea]

You can spear the cucumber with a clean teaspoon to sink it, or use this (http://www.screwcumber.com/), which is a better idea.

Dave


Thanks Dave. That screw thing looks cool, but it won't be easy to find one of them in Korea.....I'll give the teaspoon idea a try :thumb:

[Dave66]

Thanks Dave. That screw thing looks cool, but it won't be easy to find one of them in Korea.....I'll give the teaspoon idea a try :thumb:

They ship internationally, just so you know. I'm in the USA, and they sent them here, so I'd assume they would to you in Korea.

Dave

[Bassinkorea]

They ship internationally, just so you know. I'm in the USA, and they sent them here, so I'd assume they would to you in Korea.

Dave

I have just ordered some from their site. Korea is not on their list of shipping countries, but I have made a payment through paypal so they will get back to me if there's any problems.

Thanks again Dave :ezpi_wink1: