Bn Pleco And Cucumber Question

[raptorrex]

Hey guys,
just got a 1-1.5 inch bristlenose pleco for 5 us dollars! pretty good where i live because i can never find them. Anyway, I brought him/her home today and put him in my 55 gallon (yes, its cycled ) I have heard they love cucumber but was wondering how to prepare it? i have a veggie clip to sink it if needed. Do i just drop it in? or boil it? also is he large enough to eat a cucumber slice yet? Sorry if these are somewhat silly but nevertheless, i dont know. Any help much appreciated friends.

Well....
I am sorry to report that he didnt touch any of the cucumber??!! He swam right by it many times, even running into it while sucking on the glass....I am kinda worried because i know they eat algae and there isnt really any in my tank. I am just worried he is not getting enough to eat. I drop alage wafers in often for the corys but he didnt seems to touch/find those either...Do you guys have any feeding reccomendations? Will he eat frozen bloodworms like the corys once they sink to the bottom? thanks...

Drew

did you par boil the cucumber? as it may be one reason the fish left it!

It might be the fish is still acclimating to the aquarium. Sometimes they can take a week or two before they feel comfortable with their surroundings and begin to feed. I wouldn't worry if he doesn't eat for a week or two. Males will go for a few weeks guarding their eggs and then fry before going out to feed for instance. When my pair spawned, I didn't see my male leave his cave for two weeks while the fry grew. Once they were gone though, he went back to eating like normal.

a very good point!!

 

[poopsydrew]

No i didnt parboil it as i found out about this after i dropped it in. I will def. parboil it before i try again in a day or two. Thanks for the help everyone! This forum is so great

Drew

 

[raptorrex]

No i didnt parboil it as i found out about this after i dropped it in. I will def. parboil it before i try again in a day or two. Thanks for the help everyone! This forum is so great

Drew

sorry you miss my point, personally i can see no reason to do anything with veg, except perhaps peel some tubers and give all the rest a really good wash. it may also be worth letting cucumber go a little over ripe, before feeding it!

 

[Neo8223]

Chop up a piece of cucumber about 7.5 mm thick. Stick it in some boiling water, fully submerged in a mug, Then into the microwave on max for about a min and a half. Then transfer the cucumber into cold water, then after 2 mins, drop it in your tank. It will sink by itself My BN love it. They go crazy over it.

 

[raptorrex]

Chop up a piece of cucumber about 7.5 mm thick. Stick it in some boiling water, fully submerged in a mug, Then into the microwave on max for about a min and a half. Then transfer the cucumber into cold water, then after 2 mins, drop it in your tank. It will sink by itself My BN love it. They go crazy over it.

ahh i see. does the boiling not loose much of the nutritional value of the cucumber. with relation to fish? being a chef i know it does in relation to human consumption. that's the main reason i don't par boil. however i know things are not always the same, for us as fish! that's also why i break the cucumber and not cut it, as much of the vitamin loss, caused in cooking is caused by that.

 

[weston adam]

Hey guys,
just got a 1-1.5 inch bristlenose pleco for 5 us dollars! pretty good where i live because i can never find them. Anyway, I brought him/her home today and put him in my 55 gallon (yes, its cycled ) I have heard they love cucumber but was wondering how to prepare it? i have a veggie clip to sink it if needed. Do i just drop it in? or boil it? also is he large enough to eat a cucumber slice yet? Sorry if these are somewhat silly but nevertheless, i dont know. Any help much appreciated friends.

Hi there I have a 16in Gibby so you can guess Iv'e had him a long time and I have never seen him eat, it is night times only so don't worry mine do seem to like courgette more than cucumber and they love spinich leaves I put them on a clip on the side of the tank and the temp of the water softens it up in about 5 mins then it's chow down, my BN took up residence in a hollow tree root about six months ago in my tank and I only get to see him once a month when I take it out to vacume the gravel I turf him out , do the clean watch him for a bit then put it back and in he goes again so enjoy yours