Cucumber And Zucchini

[Captain Retardo]

How should I go about cooking cucumber and zucchini before putting it into my tank?

Or can I just put it in fresh (my mom has a large garden with no pesticides or fertilizers in it)

 

[Amerce]

I don't cook it I just weight it down (after making sure it is well washed) and the plec dives straight onto it

 

[Captain Retardo]

What are some ways to weigh it down? (I don't have any plant weights)

BTW- Do you think most of my fish would like the food? (look in sig to see my fish)

 

[Paula2]

I've been putting zucchini in the tank and my guys haven't touched it... does it take them a while to get interested? They have full bellies, maybe they've just been snacking on wood and algae?

 

[xJake]

I microwave mine for 30-45 secs to soften it a bit for the fish without losing any nutrients then add the weight and toss it in. My loaches and plecs then procede to maul it.

 

[Bex]

Hi Captain Retardo

Lots of people use stainless steel cutlery to weigh it down. Get a teaspoon and stick the handle into the cucumber/zucchini and chuck it in. We use veg clips bought from our LFS for just a few £££'s. They have sucker pads which you can use to stick it to the glass, we take that bit off and wrap some plant weights round the clip so it can be stuck down in the gravel easily.

Not sure if your fish will eat it though. Only our plecs and our RTBS go mad for it really. None of the other fish take any real interest but it's always worth a try!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Ooh that spoon idea is good, although I'm scared that I use too much dish soap when i wash the dishes...I'll just use an unused plastic one...

Thanks for the comments people, keep em comin!

 

[Bex]

Plastic one might not work though as I don't think it will be heavy enough? If your worried about soap on the spoon, just boil it for a little while to steralise it and then don't use it for anything else.

 

[xJake]

I use these stainless steel clip-like things that I bought at my local hardware store for 32¢ each.

 

[Arfie]

I microwave mine for 30-45 secs to soften it a bit for the fish without losing any nutrients then add the weight and toss it in. My loaches and plecs then procede to maul it.

Same here, it just softens it up a bit for other fish to peck at A few of your fish will peck at it, if it is soft enough for them, but remember to take it out within 24 hours after that it gets so soggy, it'll fall apart when you try to get it out

As for weighing it down, I use Screwcumbers

Arfie

 

[smithrc]

we use spoons... They are a great conversation point when people visit and i havent taken them out

 

[Captain Retardo]

Thanks for the replies everyone! What I'm going to do is to microwave it for 40 seconds then weight it down with a spoon!

BTW- Just to be sure, do you microwave it in some water, or not?

 

[smithrc]

Thanks for the replies everyone! What I'm going to do is to microwave it for 40 seconds then weight it down with a spoon!

BTW- Just to be sure, do you microwave it in some water, or not?

I really wouldnt microwave it... It falls apart quick enough anyway... try without to begin with see how they get on.

 

[The-Lion]

I'm another that uses teaspoons & i agree with smithrc there's no need to microwave just put it in raw

 

[Captain Retardo]

Okay, I'll try it raw first...I'll put it in tommorow