My fish aren't eating their veggies

[gale]

I put a peeled slice of cucumber in my tank today. I removed the seeds and used a plant weight to weight it down. The fish aren't even looking at it! They picked at the weight a couple of times, but that's it. Should I go ahead and remove it or leave it in for another day? I don't want it to foul up my water.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i dont think cucumbers foul the water, how long have you waited? for my fish, it took about an hour

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

what kind of fish are you trying to feed it to? is it the first time you have tried feeding cucumber? maybe if they have never seen it before they dont know what to make of it. leave it in for a bit longer, maybe take it out over night, and put a fresh piece in tomorrow. maybe your fish will soon realise its edible lol

 

[gale]

I put it in about 12 hours ago. It is the first time with cucumber and it's in my 20g tank (see my sig for fish). When I fed peas they went right for it so I just figured they were up for new foods. lol. I'll take it out in the morning and try again in a few days.

btw I probably made a mistake by putting in an algae wafer and a tiny bit of bioblend at the same time. They were so focused on the food they were used to that maybe they didn't see the cuke as food.

 

[wuvmybetta]

IME cucumber isn't much of a hit, zucchini goes over much better

It shouldn't foul up the water just yet. You can usually leave it for a day or so,but make sure it doesn't stay too long and turn mooshy because it will break into a million pieces when you try to get it out.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Just tell them if they don't eat their vegies they will get no ice cream

 

[Hooligan]

LOL Angry_Platy.

Mine don't eat it if I sink it. Let it float at the top.

They will notice it then. Specially as they keep swimming into it.

 

[gale]

Thanks all. I will buy some zucchini this week (I don't suppose they would want frozen grated from a couple years ago's bumper crop) and will try both floating on top.

And all the ice cream is for me because I eat my veggies.

 

[gale]

Well I spoke too soon. When I logged off and went to go to bed, my biggest cory was picking at the cucumber. By the time I got up there's only a ring and the same cory was still at it although I'm pretty sure he didn't eat all of it! The mollies are picking at it too. I might net it out of there later today if they haven't finished it but I guess the cucumber is a hit after all.

 

[Def]

I've never had cucumber or lettuce foul the water. I have had them cause a huge planaria explosion though, so I never leave them in for more than 4 hours.

 

[gale]

I've never had cucumber or lettuce foul the water. I have had them cause a huge planaria explosion though, so I never leave them in for more than 4 hours.

what is planaria? I'll go look it up but in case I don't find it.

edit-found it on someone named Robyn's pond website:

Planaria:

If small white creatures are seen crawling all over the glass and ornaments, especially at night, they may be planaria. Planaria commonly show up in tanks with an excess of food. Most are introduced to an aquarium from other aquaria with live foods like black worms, live plants, or anything else moved from an active aquarium that has them. There is some belief that they can survive in freeze-dried or frozen foods. If a lot of food is left in a tank; including dead and dying fish, snails, other animals, and plants; then a few planaria may divide into hundreds very quickly. They usually reproduce by asexual fission. Their heads are shaped like arrow heads. If a tank is found to be infested, planaria can be controlled by a good vacuuming of the gravel and better tank maintenance. To remove more planaria, see the next section on controlling planaria. Planaria will eat dead fish, fish eggs, and immobile fish larvae (fry newly hatched). They do not pose any risk to mobile fry or adult fish.

 

[Danno]

It seems as if you fish like the cucumber when it is softer. Try microwaving it in water and blanch it in icy water (water with ice cubes in it )

Try that next time

 

[BobK]

I had a similar problem. Saturday I decided to feed my danios and pleco some veggies for the first time. I put in 3 slightly cooked peas w/o the shell. I don't think they knew what to do with it. I'm gonna try again though and if we have any, zuchinni and cucumber.

On a side note, where can you get plant weights. I haven't been able to find any. Can you use the weights used in fishing? You can buy those in sporting goods stores.

 

[gale]

The plant weights I have came on my bunched plants that I ordered. I don't know where you can buy them though. I wouldn't use the fishing weights-I think they're made of lead. Another option is to get a feeding clip that suctions to the side of the tank and put it in there.

As for peas, when I fed those I chopped/smooshed them up (after removing the skin) with a spoon and then fed it.

 

[Griz]

Don't use lead sinkers. Copper is probably a bad idea too. I have a stainless steel ear ring that I use, works great. Use your imagination, just be wary of what it is made of. My fish don't seem to like their veggies at all. I give them zuchinni or romaine once in a while but they don't seem interested. Haven't tied peas yet... must give that a try.