haedra

So I heard that corydoras like these veggies. I finally got some yesterday.

I was wondering the best way to store it. Since a veggie like this won't last long in the refrigerator, is it possible to cut the whole thing into slices, then wrap each slice and freeze them, so that I can take out one at a time from my freezer? Or is there something else I need to do first?

Oh, and do I peel it too (I don't eat zucchini)?

Beth1965

I tried zucc for mine a few weeks ago, they didnt touch it. How long did it take for yours to get to the zucc? Maybe I didnt leave it in long enough.
I know zucc will get mushy if you freeze it, so not sure if freezing it will be a good idea.
Beth

haedra

Well, I haven't tried giving them any yet, so I'm unsure if they will like it or not. lol

Shawnie

mine wont eat veggies either I think because i feed them so much meat they turn their noses up like kids! all the other fish that do eat veggies, I only buy what I eat so i dont waste any

Beth1965

Well, its not gonna cost you an arm and a leg to try it.
B

haedra

I'm not sure about mine....they are little piggies! One in particular always seems to spend all day long picking, and nibbling at invisible things on the surfaces of the tank. All they have gotten so far is three types of food; and they like all of it: "sinking" veggie tabs (in quotes, because half the time it bobs around for 30 mins before it finally sinks), sinking shrimp pellets and algae wafers. I rarely give them the veggie tabs because they are so annoying how they float for awhile first; and inevitably get lost somewhere. But they do like them.

haedra

Hmm.

I put a slice in there, in a veggie clip suction cupped to the side but at the bottom of the tank. They seem to have at least smelled it, because they are in their "feeding frenzy" hunting for it. But it's like they can't find it! But at least putting it in there inspired a wall dance...lol

SWilkins

My fish love it and I have been wondering the same thing about freezing especially with summer coming up. Around here people will be giving away zucchini and squash in the summer. I think I am going to take one and freeze it and then take a piece out to thaw and chunk it in. All they can do is refuse it. I'll let you know after I try it.

Shawnie

whahooo maybe you will have good lil cories that eat their veggies!!! LOL

if you do try this, let me recommend putting some tank water in a glass or bowl then see if it disintegrates because cleaning that out of a tank, will be very hard

SWilkins

Oh very good point there! I did not think of that. I did wonder about the folks that boil or nuke it just to soften it. Some seem to think you have to do this but I don't see why they would not get it cooked in the wild and yes I did picture trying to clean the cooked veggies out of the tank. That would be an all day job.

haedra

I did a little googling about freezing zucchini, and ended up with cooking websites but figured it might work the same.

So this is what I tried. It was recommended for using zucchini slices for stir frying; to slice it, then blanch the slices for 3 minutes exactly. Then, dump in cold water to stop them cooking. Then it was stated you could freeze the slices without them breaking apart upon thawing.

I'm not sure how well this will work, but I took these slices after doing that and individually wrapped them in plastic tightly; then put them all in a freezer bag, squeezing the air out. Right now, they are pliable and bendy, but not squishy and soft.

I'll let you know when I thaw one next what happens.

Shawnie

nice visual wasnt it? I dont soften my veggies either my fish see the dentist regularly

SWilkins

It was one of those visuals that kinda makes you cringe...especially since today is tank cleaning day. I can just see it now a tank full of mush that you cannot vacuum out no matter how hard you try. Yep it is a glass or bowl of water for me before I do this most definitely! for saving me from a horrible mess!

haedra

Well at least I got a couple pics out of this.

Here are three of them completely ignoring the huge green round thing. The fourth, as always, is performing his obsessive/ compulsive need to nibble at all my tank's surfaces:

ignoring.jpg

And here was one just chilling so I ended up with a really good closeup. Probably the best I've ever managed to take!

cutie.jpg

I at least thought that my small snail population would be zooming over there, but not even the snails are interested. So much for taking the opportunity to remove a few!

Shawnie

amaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing cories..ive said it before and ill say it again, you have the bestest ones and they are adorable!

haedra

Thanks! I feel like I owe that all to the fact that I live only 30 minutes from a really great fish store (That Fish Place). These cories have been through the mill with me; and they never once got sick, through moving to a new place, through the Safe Start process, through the mini cycle I experienced.

Now, I hope I don't jinx myself by saying that!

Beth1965

Zucc is really mostly water, i really think you're going to ahve a problem with it after u freeze it.

MeGustaUnaPez926

I had the same problem! I put in cucumber, and all the snails and my cories ignored it! The funny thing was my gourami actaully ate a bunch! Go figure. But remember to take it out really soon. I left mine in for about two days, and my water water green for about a month! Like so green you couldn't see the fish. So be careful...

haedra

Oh yea, if they don't seem interested in it soon (like I'm talking within an hour or two) I'm just going to take it out. It's not an issue of eating during the day or night, as they always eat when the lights are on, in the morning and in the afternoon. And I would highly doubt they just aren't hungry, because I feed on the lighter side; my belief is that a fish is healthier slightly hungry than slightly full. I think the little buggers just don't want it! Oh well, no biggie; the veggie was cheap. I guess we could eat what I have left over ourselves...but we don't like it. Well if we don't like it I guess we can't blame them for not liking it.

Shawnie

do you have any other fish? plecs LOVE it ...so do alot of other cichilds....and even my guppies and platies will pick at it...

try slicing some up with a ton of different spices and fry thin slices in olive oil..its great tasting and the only way i can eat it hahah

haedra

If I'm weird enough to adore brussels sprouts... maybe I should try the zucchini.

The only other fishies are the bettas; so it would be just us eating it! I guess I'm more surprised that the snails didn't go for it. I usually see about 20 when I first turn on the lights in the morning; then a couple during the day. But as soon as the zucchini dropped in there they all disappeared.

Shawnie

I heard they like lettuce..maybe its tasteless and they wont throw their noses up at that lol..finiky fish n their veggies...

now brussels sprouts I cant do hahaha..so maybe the zucchini will be ok with you! LOL

GypsyGirl71

I tried a slice of cucumber yesterday and everybody ignored it except my CAE, he's run over it a few times. We have a veggie garden and are growing squash and zuchinni, and as someone above mentioned, we'll have so much we'll be giving it away by summer's end, so I'm sure I'll try a little of this with mine too. So far, I know they eat lettuce, I can put a small piece in there and it's gone the next day.

aquarist48

Hello. Some great pics there! When I give my Silver Dollars Romaine Lettuce I put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. It makes it a lot softer and easier for the fish to rip apart. So I think either boiling it lightly or freezing it should work fine. Good luck!

prairielilly

From my experience feeding zucchini to otos: I never peeled it, I would cut it into slices and lay them on a plate, then microwave for 30 sec or so, then lay the slices in a plastic container and freeze them. This is all to soften the cell walls to make it easier for them to eat. To feed I'd remove a frozen slice and put in a cup of tank water for a few minutes (ends up partially thawed), then attach to a veggie clip - I removed the suction cup and tied a piece of dental floss to it - and put in the tank. I let the dental floss hang out the tank, made it really easy to remove later (less hands in tank = less spooked fish). I had to remove the veg after 12 hours, any more and it would start to rot - I got the 'visual' mentioned above, awful to get the stuff out. It took a few tries before any of the fish figured out it was FOOD. Eventually they did and there was constantly a fish on it

Your cories are super cute. I'm hoping to get some like those soon

haedra

Well here's one more just for fun, but it didn't get so good; it's a bit blurry, even after sharpening it.

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kwesdog

When I first started putting Zuc in my tanks the fish never touched the slices. After doing this a few times at lights out time they started eating it. At first just a small amount of the slice but now when I put a slice in at night its normally 90%+ gone by morning.

It just takes them time to get to know what it is.

Harry

haedra

Well this experience inspired me to change one of my signature pictures. If you want to see it you'll have to scroll up to the top of the page.

Shawnie

i actually borrowed the pic earlier today to brighten it up to see his colors as I ADORE him/her..and was thinking , "what a great siggy pic" that would be

(I never used it for anything just wanted to see him a bit lighter )

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Beth1965

That's very cool looking (the sig), actually the more i look at it , i love it