mommybaby295

I gave my fish garlic for the first time yesterday, and boy was it stinky!

I took a jar of minced garlic from my refrigerator, put a bit on a plate, added a little water and some freeze-dried bloodworms, waited a few minutes, and then dumped the whole mess into the tank.

Unfortunately, with the new, stronger filter (Fluval 305), it seems like many of the worms just got sucked into the filter. However, some of the chunks of garlic fell to the bottom of the tank and stayed there. This morning the chunks were gone.

So my questions:
1) Is there a better way to do this?
2) Is it okay that I fed the fish the chunks of garlic? Or is that bad for them?
3) How often should I feed them garlic?

And on a side note, I know the fish need some fiber. Right now, I am feeding them:
- Tetra color-enhancing flakes
- Tetra color-enhancing pellets (tiny pellets that sink to the bottom)
- Freeze-dried bloodworms (not too often, maybe once a week or so)
- Shrimp pellets that sink to the bottom

I can't do peas, and being a vegetarian, I have a strong preference not to do frozen food, as I don't want it in my freezer. If I add in algae wafers or spirulina flakes, will this help them not become constipated and keep their diet balanced?

Jaysee

NLS makes food with garlic in it.

Shawnie

you could always make your own food and have less of a mess?
some of the garlic from your jar, with some of your flakes, few frozen peas(small bag for the fishies), and your spirulina , and a one a day vitamin all with a few tablespoons of water...blend it and then add the same amounts of plain gelatin as you do water and freeze it in a small ice cube tray...varied diet all in one and way cheaper and less messy....

lorabell

My fish love a recipe like that!!! I use baby food peas...if thats any help..I really started doing it for my snails...lol...but almost everyone LOVES it

mommybaby295

peas are out - allergy

lorabell

ok..well I have also used baby food green beans in my recipe

aquarist48

Hello Mom. Daphnia will also work in place of peas. High in fiber. I haven't used it personally but I've read it acts as a laxative as well.
Ken

mommybaby295

Thanks everyone for your help. I'll try the daphnia. I think I can do the freeze-dried, and then add some water to re-hydrate it first, is that right? And since the garlic got eaten, I will try that maybe once every couple of weeks, just tossing a couple of chunks of minced garlic into the tank.

Shawnie

if your fin babies arent constipated, you really dont have to worry about it....but with feeding freeze dried foods, soaking is best..let them totally swell up before adding to the tank..instead of water, soak them in the juice from the garlic jar which is just as good as feeding them the garlic...garlic helps their immune system so having it weekly is a bonus....

mommybaby295

One guppy and one danio have had the poo hanging from their bodies. I cut back on the feedings and haven't had the problem again. I just want to do what I can to avoid it - I'm trying to be a good fish mom. I have a lot of people on this site to look up to and try to emulate.

Thanks for that advice. For some reason my jar of garlic doesn't have any juice, but I think I can take some of the minced garlic, add a bit of water, and make my own "juice" that way. And then use the liquid to soak the bloodworms and the daphnia.

You guys are the best. Thanks for challenging me to be a good pet owner.