Feeding my chinese algae eater

[FishBazzar]

How do I feed my algae eater these foods? How do I prepare them before putting them in the tank?

 

[AquaNut]

A lot of people blanch the veggies before adding them to the tank (pour boiling water over them or submerge them in boiling water for 30 seconds or so) to soften them a bit, but I never do. I just wash them. For zuchinni or cucumber, I usually slice a little 'canoe' and scoop out the seeds. I have 'veggie clips' (plastic clips on suction cups) that I use to keep the food stable and submerged, but you could also wedge them under a rock or piece slate. For mid and upper level fishes, you can sometimes float leafy veggies (I do this with carrot greens) and catch the stem in the canopy lid.

 

[FishBazzar]

Do you peel the cucumber and zucchini? And won't a half a cucumber doing that canoe thing sink by itself? Lol it seems like it would.....though you never know

 

[AquaNut]

I don't peel them, and I wouldn't add half a cucumber at once. Just a canoe shaped piece a few inches long. Unfortunately, they don't sink.

 

[FishBazzar]

Thanks for the advice. I put in some cucumber. One piece is just plain cucumber you would eat and the other is that soft stuff with the seeds. The fish seem to love both. Hopefully the chinese algae eater will come up at night and have his fill.