Feeding fresh veggies

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

I want to start feeding my M. johanni and M. auratus fresh vegetables and or fruits. I read the pinned post but I'd like more clarification. What sort of plant foods are best for these species and in what way, if any should they be prepared?

 

[vantgE]

Anything really but avoid something juicy that could muck up the tank plus they will individually prefer certain veggies. To prepare them consider boiling them )I use the microwave) and cooling them, or freeszing them and thawing them. The if you have one a veggetable clip works great, or I have hung them from my tank lid with a twist tye-em, the other option being break them up into small bits and feed it like pellets(which works great sometimes).

Personally mine like zucchini the best, and celerely leaf too

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

why is it that i must boil freeze and rethaw them instead of giving them fresh?

 

[freddyk]

blanching or freezing them breaks down the cellular matter making it easier for them to eat - it also loses nutrients and breaks down more quickly in the tank afterwards, so I recommend trying it fresh first to see how they take it - many mbuna won't have any problem eating it fresh.

Any leaf lettuce - romain, boston, spinach, etc. can be used, as well as zucchini, cucumber, and peas. Fruit tends to be acidic and I wouldn't use them - stick to greens for a well simulated diet.

 

[lilkey625]

my cichlids seem to love squash the best... i was making some dinner one day and though some of my fresh veggies in and it was a hit, zucchini was the runner up ..... if you feed them veggetable should that take place of there meal time? i dont know if im over feeding them? sorry for posting a question in someones elses post... dont know if this is ok or not.

 

[freddyk]

The best part about fresh veggies is you can't overfeed them, except when considering the cleanliness of the tank of course.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

sorry for posting a question in someones elses post... dont know if this is ok or not.

The more questions the better. Thanks for all the advice everyone.