Lilwystynyra

Hi guys!

I've been reading up about mollies a fair bit and have noticed a few references to vegetable treats. I've tried searching for instructions etc, but most places just list them and leave it be.

So! What are the favourite vegetable treats for livebearers? I have mollies, guppies and tetras and an organic veggie garden

I've heard mention of spinach, cucumber and peas, but how do you present it to them?

So far all I've heard about peas is to shell them and place a piece the size of their eye, which I tried, but my fish weren't interested at all.

My standard food is flakes, tubifex worms, and some wardley sinking crumbles (which the tetras seem to love).

Suggestions please

Blub

I remember when I used to have platys they loved Cuccumber! I still feed it to my plecos. You place it in the microwave for 30 seconds (to soften it) and put it in the tank. You can weigh it down with something to make it sink, or let if float. With any luck they'll g crazy! Peas are easy - just shell them and drop the little bits you find inside in the tank. My tetras, barbs and rasboras love them. My fish don't seem interested in spinach, though.

aquarist48

Hello Lil. You have the right idea on the peas. It may take a time or two before they realize that it's food. Too, they may not accept it at all it's hard to say. I don't have live bearers but I do feed my tropical fish (listed in my signature and aquarium info) Romaine lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers and peas.

As for cucumbers, remove the seeds. They will only end up in the bottom of your tank. You can try cutting it into little pieces or run a plant weight through it so that the slice sinks to the bottom. Same for the zucchini but I don't worry about the seeds here. Too, I just score, with a knife and sink the round slice. You can blanch them a minute or two to soften them if you like. For small fish it may be a good idea. The Romain lettuce I put a couple of plant weights in the rib, at the bottom, so that it sinks and stays pretty much up right.

I'm sure you'll get some more responses from people that have the live bearers.
Take care!
Ken

Lilwystynyra

Hehe I tried the peas. I got two and smooshed them up in my fingers then dropped them in. My guppies LOVED them. Along with my baby molly. They all fought over the peas So cute seeing the baby molly trying to steal from my baby male guppy. The tetras ate the leftovers but mumma molly wasn't interested at all so she got flakes.

I'll have to try cucumber sometime

Thanks!

gunner13

Try corgette as this has more flesh on than a cucumber which is 90% water. Just slice it and weigh it down with a small strip of lead and drop in. They will love it.
Nick

mommybaby295

If they aren't interested, you may want to try soaking in some garlic first.

Lilwystynyra

Garlic? I would have thought things like garlic, onion, chilli, tomato etc would be bad for fish.

mommybaby295

apparently, garlic juice is really good for fish - helps with parasites. who knew, right?

Blub

Garlic is great for fish! When my fish are ill, I usually soak their food in garlic which not only makes it tastier for the fish (they go for garlic food more than non garlic) but it helps out their system.

redlessi

what is corgette?

I feed cucumber and zucchini to my fish and they all love it. I usually spear it to a fork and wash really good before putting it in the tank. My avatar is actually my snail on a piece.

Good Luck

gunner13

It's like a cucumber but a bit darker and more solid. Maybe you call them something different in the U.S.
Nick

Sorry i miss spelt it. COURGETTE.

jprime84

I put a slice of organic zuchinni that I mocrowaved for a few seconds to soften it. It has not been touched by any inhabitants of the tank - including the clown pleco I got it for.

Blub

This is a courgette lol.... I think you Americans call them Zucchini!

Jprime my plecos often take a while to find it - especially the first time. It may take them a while to realise it's food as it looks nothing like they're usual diet!

redlessi

thanks much