Safe Veggies To Feed...and A Lesson Learned

We eat lots of fresh vegetables at our house, and I have a teeeeeeny bristlenose pleco in my 75 gallon tank with seven hungry diamond tetras and my two angels that seem to have lymphocystis. I thought it would be cool to supplement. I know zucchinI is safe...what else? I found out the hard way that romaine lettuce, while popular with the fish, was a bad choice since it went completely and literally to mush.
What else can I use safely?

 

I feed courgette (zucchini), cucumber, spinach, broccoli, kale, peas, brussels sprouts, bell peppers and probably some other things I can't quite think of atm. Some things more than others, courgette being the most commonly used. I just use whichever one I have at the time I want to feed it.

 

I got vitamins for my fish lol. I'm laughing because my fish get more nutrition than I do haha! Anyway, they are called Vitachem and it's liquid. That would be more nutritious as a supplement over land veggies.

 

I guess I was just trying to think of what I can put in there for the BN Pleco. The others pick at it too, and I want to make sure I don't add anything unsafe...like the aforementioned romaine lettuce hearts. That was a water change I was not planning on doing....
He loves zucchinI so maybe I should just stick to that.I couldn't believe how fast he zipped through the last piece I put in the tank.

 

I guess I was just trying to think of what I can put in there for the BN Pleco. The others pick at it too, and I want to make sure I don't add anything unsafe...like the aforementioned romaine lettuce hearts. That was a water change I was not planning on doing....
He loves zucchinI so maybe I should just stick to that.I couldn't believe how fast he zipped through the last piece I put in the tank.

I rotate zucchini, cucumber, and bell peppers. Mainly because they are easy to retrieve after 24 hours, and they don't make a mess in the tank.

 

I guess I was just trying to think of what I can put in there for the BN Pleco. The others pick at it too, and I want to make sure I don't add anything unsafe...like the aforementioned romaine lettuce hearts. That was a water change I was not planning on doing....
He loves zucchinI so maybe I should just stick to that.I couldn't believe how fast he zipped through the last piece I put in the tank.

Oh yes, I feed my BN plecos veggies sometimes. But again, algae is healthier than land veggies for him. They are not bad for him, and can be used as a supplement, they just don't have as much nutrition as algae does.

 

Carrots, sweet potato and potato are pretty popular. Plus the red/orange foods contain carotenoids, which helps maintain colouration.

Rockmelon is another popular fruit, as are apples. Best not to feed too much, high in sugars and can 'spoil'. My favourite thing is to feed the rind with some of the flesh of the rockmelon...

Also like to eat mushrooms as well. Dunno if someone didnt mention peas or corn, but mine eat them with gusto.

Also like to feed my bristlenose rice, which they enjoy.

 

Oh yes, I feed my BN plecos veggies sometimes. But again, algae is healthier than land veggies for him. They are not bad for him, and can be used as a supplement, they just don't have as much nutrition as algae does.

OK good to know. I will get some algae wafers. I'm sad to say that the last time I had a pleco it was a common (that was over ten years ago) and I was still learning everything the hard way...thinking he could live off of windfall in my 55...he starved...I don't want this one to ever be hungry! I also said I wasn't going to let this freshwater tank run my life like the reef did, but we see how that is going ...

Carrots, sweet potato and potato are pretty popular. Plus the red/orange foods contain carotenoids, which helps maintain colouration.

Rockmelon is another popular fruit, as are apples. Best not to feed too much, high in sugars and can 'spoil'. My favourite thing is to feed the rind with some of the flesh of the rockmelon...

Also like to eat mushrooms as well. Dunno if someone didnt mention peas or corn, but mine eat them with gusto.

Also like to feed my bristlenose rice, which they enjoy.

Rockmelon = cantaloupe, right? Interesting. Of course, I never touch the stuff so I won't feed it to anything I love either (I can't even stand the smell of it), but still interesting. I thought about putting a carrot in there, but wasn't sure...hence my post! Very interesting options.

I also think, obviously, I left the lettuce in the tank for too long. Another lesson learned the hard way.

 

OK good to know. I will get some algae wafers. I'm sad to say that the last time I had a pleco it was a common (that was over ten years ago) and I was still learning everything the hard way...thinking he could live off of windfall in my 55...he starved...I don't want this one to ever be hungry! I also said I wasn't going to let this freshwater tank run my life like the reef did, but we see how that is going ...



Rockmelon = cantaloupe, right? Interesting. Of course, I never touch the stuff so I won't feed it to anything I love either (I can't even stand the smell of it), but still interesting. I thought about putting a carrot in there, but wasn't sure...hence my post! Very interesting options.

I also think, obviously, I left the lettuce in the tank for too long. Another lesson learned the hard way.

I have algae wafers as well, but every time I drop one in the tank the tiger barbs hoard/destroy it, and then eat it themselves...

 

I have algae wafers as well, but every time I drop one in the tank the tiger barbs hoard/destroy it, and then eat it themselves...

I have to feed my BN plecos at night when the light is off and place algae tabs in caves or tight places.

Magicpenny75 Sorry about your common But I keep a close eye on my plecos bellies. My BN in my 120 gallon I hardly have to feed cuz he eats the rampant constant diatoms and is a good healthy weight, but I have to supplement algae tabs in my 90g with 3 adult BNs and babies.

Also keep an eye on plants. If he's rasping thru leaves, wearing them thin or even eating them, he needs more algae supplement.

 

Also like to eat mushrooms as well. Dunno if someone didnt mention peas or corn, but mine eat them with gusto.

Just a friendly heads up, don't feed corn and peas too often cuz it is bad for their digestive systems long-term. Once in a while it's ok.

 

Just a friendly heads up, don't feed corn and peas too often cuz it is bad for their digestive systems long-term. Once in a while it's ok.

I can't imagine how I would keep it contained anyway lol. It's not that great for our digestive systems either

 

Just a friendly heads up, don't feed corn and peas too often cuz it is bad for their digestive systems long-term. Once in a while it's ok.

Like most foods, it should be fed in moderation. If we have too much meat, or fruit or sugars, our body feels it. Same for fish

 

Canned green beans are an option too. I'll stick a few onto the tines of a fork and drop it in at lights out. The pleco gets some and the others eat on it too. Usually a snail will finish it off. Or you can mash the green beans into a mush and make a ball. With whole green beans the fish want to eat the soft center first. With the bean balls they get more of the whole bean and can't be as selective. I'll mash 2 or 3 together and then put the ball in a spoon. It's a bit messy though so I usually only do that before a water change.