Foods: Flakes, Worms, Shrimp, Veggies?

[riseabovethesun]

I typically feed my fish flakes and bloodworms, I've tried brine shrimp but they don't like them and a few people have told me they aren't as nutritious? Either way I do flakes and bloodworms!

I've read in a variety of places that people will feed zucchini, frozen peas (w/skin w/o skin) and a variety of other veggies.

I'm just kind of curious about this veggie thing and what types of fish typically eat them? I've read plecos are big fans of frozen peas and zucchini, but that's about it. Besides random other invertebrates I've read about. I've even read about people feeding table scraps, meats; chicken, beef, etc. And I've read great pro and con stuff about meats.

Are veggies worth it? Do they enhance anything? Is it better than regular fish food? I'm pretty curious about your guys' experience with feeding and what you'd suggest -- your opinions matter to meeee

 

[Thyra]

I can’t answer you question, but I did have a kind of related experience. We love animals and I get quite involved in the Iditarod dog sled race. They take such good care of their dogs and are really up on types of dog foods and many make their own. I found a video on how one person did it, so we decided, “Okay, sound good.” We bought different kinds of meat on sale, chopped, trimmed and ground. Cooked trimmings and bones to get broth, added tripe, kidneys, etc. (Ugh!) Mixed it all by hand in a huge bowl and packed it in muffin cups for portioning and froze it, then packaged it. The kitchen was a mess! Neither dog was interested in even licking the mixing bowl! We ended up having to cook it before they would eat it. We aren’t doing that again! My concern with feeding fish table scraps in a confined area would be the mess the tank could easily become because it would be hard to pick out any little disintegrated pieces before they rotted.

 

[riseabovethesun]

I have a friend who is an animal fanatic, she does feed her dog raw foods and also her cats are on a raw diet after quite the process. I know you aren't supposed to feed animals cooked food if you're going to do it, especially fats. I just feed my dogs the kibbles and have my entire life and they've been good -- so I am a bit like "eh" to the raw food thing. My co-worker even eats raw, ha it's pretty bizarre. Dog sled races would be so awesome! I want to get a sled because we have a husky/malamute and I think it would stereotypically fit him.

But yes, I've read the fish veggie food thing in quite a few places and some people are intense about doing it. I was really just curious about it, I doubt I'd go out of my way to buy them groceries, I hardly by myself groceries and my fish even have better water than I do! However if feeding peas was some all mighty color/health/life enhancing food, I might try it out.

I know it can cloud up water too...

 

[littletankbigworld]

Veggies are great for fish. Certain veggies, however, have no nutritional value. Iceburg lettuce has little nutritional value; romaine is better. Just try small pieces of veggies to see what your fish like. Mine love broccoli, but they only eat the top of the stalk. They aren't crazy about zucchini or celery. My snails love lettuce. I put the veggies in at night but you have to take the leftovers out right away in the morning or they will spoil the water.
I highly recommend spirulina-based foods. They make flakes, wafers and pellets with spirulina, a type of green algae. It's highly nutritious and easy for fish to digest. I recommend swapping out average fish flakes for spirulina ones. Make sure you still feed your carnivorous fish (if you have any) some type of meat when feeding the others spirulina. Some people complain that their fish won't eat spirulina but I had no problem whatsoever.

 

[lauraf]

I feed my tank either spinach leaves or zucchini slices (courgettes for our UK friends )about once or twice a week. I drop the veggie into boiling water for half a minute (sometimes I'm really lazy and don't get out a pot, so just pour hot water from the kettle over them), then attach with an elastic band to an aquarium-safe little stone. My pleco loves the veggies, as does my SAE, loaches and my gouramis too! Even the angels have been seen nibbling. I usually put veggies in at night and take out whatever is left (if anything!) in the morning, but I've left zucchini in there for up to 24 hours with no noticeable issues.
Is there a tangible benefit? Can't tell, but the veggies sure get gobbled up. I don't usually buy them specifically for my tank - we just happen to eat a lot of zucchini and spinach!

 

[riseabovethesun]

So fascinating to hear how everyone's fish like certain veggies! Somewhat bizarre to hear that they eat veggies, but not at the same time We don't usually have many veggies in the house, but next time if we do maybe I'll see if any of my inhabitants like them. I just find it strange that I hear so much about it, yet nobody is really positive if there is any great benefit -- maybe just variety and something other than flakes? It's just a neat idea either way, especially if you have leftover veggies.

And in regards to Spirulina I've never seen that in stores, I'll look around for it. I try to avoid flakes pretty much except for the guppies because my other fish absolutely and completely are in love with blood worms, especially my shrimp, they are crazy for that stuff.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Your livebearers (fish such as guppies, platies, mollies) will benefit the most from the spirulina. I use the O.S.I. brand. O.S.I. makes flakes, pellets and wafers.