Hikari Algae Wafers

[ollybolly]

Hi All,
my zebra danios love the algae wafers that I pop into the tank for my two bristlenoses, am I okay to let the wafer be a feed for for the plecs AND the danios occasionally, ie not feed the danios their flakes that day?
Also I hear about lettuce and spinach, how do I prepare such a culinary delight for my fishes?
Oliver

 

[Leopardess]

Yes. The wafers are fine. In fact, danios do better with a little vegetable matter in their diet.

boiled skinned peas also seem to be taken by a lot of danios.

As for the lettuce and stuff, just wash it very well. Then tie it to a rock or some other method to get it to sink. I'd put it in at night - esp. for the plecos - then remove anything that is uneaten in the morning.

EDIT: Also, if you don't already have some, I'd get a piece of driftwood for the tank. Pleco's like to chew on wood and many of them really require it as part of their diet.

 

[silentskream]

as far as the lettuce goes, romaine would be the best kind, iceburg and others have little to no nutritional value. i've been told by several ichthiologists (fish scientists) to microwave the lettuce for 3 seconds first because it helps to breakdown the cell walls.

another thing i read on here that i found interesting was that someone fed her plecos boiled green beans. since they're boiled, they sink naturally and are a great source of nutrition!

 

[LongTime]

Originally posted by silentskream
microwave the lettuce for 3 seconds first because it helps to breakdown the cell walls.

Thank for that tip! I have been blanching the spinach I give my pleco but just popping into the microwave for a little bit is quicker than it takes to boil watter even in a mic.

 

[silentskream]

glad i could help

 

[Leopardess]

The same thing will happen if you leave it in overnight. For the most part, the plecos will go nuts on the stuff in the dark, so by the time it "softens" during the night they'll be out and about.