can i feed my mbuna cichlids cucumber? is it beneficial?

[AquariumNoob13]

i am worried that they are getting too much protein and not enough "greens" in their diet. so i was wondering if they would eat a cucumber if i quartered it and put one of the quarters on the surface of the water line? or should i put it at the bottom of the tank and weigh it down with some gravel or w/e? and is cucumber beneficial to them?

[wataugachicken]

vegetable matter is very important to their diet, and fresh veggies are the best. cucumber, however, doesn't have a lot of vitamins. you would do better to go with zucchini or leafy greens like spinach or romaine lettuce. for the zucchini, i would dice a chunk of it up into bite-size pieces (fish bites, not people bites) and toss it in the tank. it will float. let them eat it for a while and then net out the leftovers about a 1/2 hour later. for spinach or other leafy greens i would drop a leaf into some boiling water for just a few seconds so it gets wilted and soft, and then use a veggie clip in the tank. it's a little clip with a suction cup that sticks to the glass. you could leave that in for a while longer.

[AquariumNoob13]

ok. i see. thanks. i guess i will go out and buy some zucchini then.

[tarheels910]

Ive noticed cichlids to be picky with cucumber. I use lettuce, seaweed, and Formula Two. You could also use Spirulina flakes.

[dynasty187]

I've used cucumber several times, my mbuna, peacock and calvus like it alot.

ps. I cut the cucumber in 4 peices, length wise and stick a stainless steel fork in the peice to weigh it down.

[GirlieGirl8521]

My Mbuna liked Cucumber and Zucchini, but I remember reading that Zuc may have more nutrients for them. Both are good things to incorporate into their diet.

[AquariumNoob13]

do i need to cut the zuc into small bite-size pieces, or will they be able to eat just a normal slice tied to a decor a little more than halfway down in the tank from the waterline?