As soon as I put the mashed peas in my tank they dissipate. How do you keep them chunky enough to make it to the bottom for them to eat?
Thanks!
Hey Zenz, the peas you feed them will hold up better if you stick with fresh or frozen peas (instead of canned), then just make sure you don't overcook them. If you squeeze them just right, the insides pop right out from the skins - usually in two halves that you can then cut, mash, or squish as needed. What you actually do with them depends on the type of fish you're feeding them to... and how.
Fresh or frozen peas are a much better source of fiber over canned peas. Green beans or lima beans can also serve the purpose and may give you suitable options, depending on what's available in your freezer or pantry on a given day.
You can compare the relative difference in dietary fiber content between peas, lima beans, and green beans from these figures:
Green Peas
5.5 grams - Fresh green peas, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
5.5 grams - Frozen green peas, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
3.3 grams - Canned green peas, drained, without salt.
Lima Beans
6.0 grams - Fresh baby lima beans, cooked, drained, without salt.
6.0 grams - Frozen baby lima beans, cooked, drained, without salt.
4.6 grams - Canned baby lima beans, drained, without salt.
5.3 grams - Fresh lima beans (mature), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
5.3 grams - Frozen lima beans (mature), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
4.8 grams - Canned lima beans (mature), without salt.
Green Beans
3.2 grams - Fresh green beans, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
3.0 grams - Frozen green beans, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
1.9 grams - Canned green beans, drained, no salt added.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database (comparisons made per 100 grams).