How Long Can Zucchini Stay In A Tank?

I don't have the heart to take it away from this little guy, but I also don't want it to start rotting.

 

Most people say 24 hours.

 

If you don’t blanch it first then it will take a a day or two for the pleco to want it. Try blanching a piece of zucchinI in the microwave with a little bit of water for a couple of minutes until it goes a bit soft then cool it off under some running water and toss it in and take it out after about 24 hours, maybe earlier because of your tank size being small. I wouldn’t leave it in any longer than that because it will start falling apart and clouding the tank and will also smell horrible once you take it out.

 

I would put a bit in in the evening, then take it out in the morning. I think you should do it once or twice a week

 

I used blanched zucchinI for my otos and I typically leave it in the tank 24 hours and sometimes even 48 without any issues. I take thinner slices out a little sooner, as they tend to fall apart quicker. Probably safer to stick to 12-24 hours. You can always replace it with another slice and zucchinI is fairly cheap or you can grow some in your yard. I always blanch it first though, and my otos go crazy over it as soon as my hand moves away from it.

 

I leave it in, but I also have lots of fish that eat/use small enough slices that it is eaten within a couple days - zucchinI holds together much better and I have only had to take it out of tanks that had less veggie eating fish.
The piece of tape that the rind looks like can be a little confusing and that part should be taken out.
I would start doing thinner slices or quarter slices.

 

Elbert, my bristle nose is the only fish in my tank that eats his fresh veggies. I give him raw zucchinI and leave it in there until he cleans it up or it floats. His favorite part is the skin so sometimes I will put fresh in once all the skin is gone.

He has no problem eating it raw (as in unblanched) and usually cleans it up within 24-36 hours. I have found that raw veggies are less likely to fall apart and make a mess in the tank.

He actually seems to pout if there is none in there for him so I try to keep some in there 24/7/365. I don't know if he goes by sight or smell but he can be grazing on bio-film at one end of my 4 foot tank and he zips to the end where I feed him within seconds of my putting fresh zucchinI in there for him. I do supplement his zucchinI diet with Omega One algae wafers and occasionally I see him munching on a shrimp pellet. He has never tasted real algae since none grows in this tank so I am glad he does like his veggies.

 

I had it in for 48 hours and it was the most disgusting thing I had ever pulled out of my tank, mostly because my pleco just didn’t eat any of it

 

I had it in for 48 hours and it was the most disgusting thing I had ever pulled out of my tank, mostly because my pleco just didn’t eat any of it

First they have to learn that it is food. Put it in there raw and it won't fall apart and get gross. Put it in the same place every time and once yours discovers it is food he should clean it up. You may have to try several times before he finds out that it actually is food but I guess some of them never do.

 

I see, in my old tank my pleco found if the first day. I guess I got lucky

 

I blanch it and it will usually last 2-3 days. I put in pretty big pieces too.

 

I blanch my zucchinI in the microwave and cool it off in ice water. After that, I just drop it in before I go to bed and take it out when I wake up and so far I haven’t had any issues with my water

 

I leave it in, but I also have lots of fish that eat/use small enough slices that it is eaten within a couple days - zucchinI holds together much better and I have only had to take it out of tanks that had less veggie eating fish.
The piece of tape that the rind looks like can be a little confusing and that part should be taken out.
I would start doing thinner slices or quarter slices.

Tape? The ZucchinI doesn't have tape on it.

 

Tape? The ZucchinI doesn't have tape on it.

The rind after all the green is eaten looks like a strip of tape lol.

 

Honestly? I leave stuff in my tank for days, unless it looks super gross. My snails love stuff that is on the brink; my fish love it before then. I will take something out after 3 days if it's not completely eaten, if it's a veggie. If it's protein I don't leave it longer than 12 hrs.

I blanch stuff that is hard for my little goldies to eat, like leafy greens or broccoli. Stuff like zucchinI I would add fresh because it lasts longer. It all depends on your tank's current bioload and bacteria cultures!