African Cichlids and Zuccini Question - Aquarium Advice

soccerstud652 · 05-05-2005, 03:08 AM

I have just recently recieved 3 African Cichlid babies. They have been in my tank for 2 days now, and I have been feeding them tiny Cichlid pellets made by TopFin. I want to introduce them to zuccini, since I know that is a favorable food for them. I bought a veggie clip and put a two inch frozen zuccini slice on it. They haven't seemed to eat it though. Am I doing something wrong here? Should I just stick to the pellets? Is leaving the zuccini in the tank wrong. Let me know, Thank You!

RogerMcAllen · 05-05-2005, 03:39 AM

You might want to try blanching the zuccini first. Remove the seeds, and put it in a small cup with water just covering the top. Microwave it for 15 seconds or so, take it out, and rinse in cold water. This should soften it enough for them to enjoy.

soccerstud652 · 05-05-2005, 04:01 AM

So should I still keep it in a stick form or should I just put it at the top of the water?

TankGirl · 05-05-2005, 10:40 AM

What kind of Africans do you have? Not all of them are going to like veggies, but if they are mbuna they likely will. They are going to outgrow this 5 [acronym:c266e6d3da="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c266e6d3da] pretty darn soon, also - I am growing out two fry in a 6gal and the yellow lab is only 1.5cm and is already bullying the borleyi.

I'd try to sink it by weighting it down or using a suction cup clip. My Africans were not interested in the zuchinni for the first few times I put it in there, but after several times introducing it they finally caught on. I'd keep it in there for 24 hours, remove it, and try again in a day or two. Eventually they'll get the idea. I also agree that blanching and seed removal is a good idea.

soccerstud652 · 05-05-2005, 01:35 PM

Yeh, they are Mbunas Cichlids. I will try both of those ideas, thank you.

**Fishyfanatic** · 05-05-2005, 02:01 PM

They also like frozen peas that have been blanhed and de-skinned.

cichlid_girl · 05-06-2005, 01:15 PM

Mine really like the zucinni. I foudn that spearing it through the middle with a toothpick and then attached it to a toufa rock I had worked quite well. It took mine a few days to get the idea too. THey will figure it out though

dogspot · 05-06-2005, 01:22 PM

I've been dropping spinach leaves and cucumbers acnchored with a plant anchor. My Tropheus Duboisi really loves the spinach... My plecos go crazy for it also. The Frontosas stay clear of it though. I'll drop it in in the evening... And by morning there is no trace of it anywhere in the tank. I don't do anything to the spinach, just drop it in raw after I rinse it off. The only thing I do to the cucmbers is remove the seeds.

soccerstud652 · 05-07-2005, 08:55 PM

What is a plant anchor? Could you give me a link?

dogspot · 05-07-2005, 09:23 PM

When you buy a bunched plant at a [acronym:cdf7006448="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:cdf7006448]... It's the piece of metal that holds it together. Probably not sold individually.

05-05-2005, 03:08 AM	#1
soccerstud652 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: LI, New York Posts: 57	African Cichlids and Zuccini Question I have just recently recieved 3 African Cichlid babies. They have been in my tank for 2 days now, and I have been feeding them tiny Cichlid pellets made by TopFin. I want to introduce them to zuccini, since I know that is a favorable food for them. I bought a veggie clip and put a two inch frozen zuccini slice on it. They haven't seemed to eat it though. Am I doing something wrong here? Should I just stick to the pellets? Is leaving the zuccini in the tank wrong. Let me know, Thank You! __________________ Marineland Eclipse System Six Rena Air Pump Model 50 (Airstone) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 50 Watt Glass 20 Gallon Aquarium Penn Plax Cascade 100 Hang-On Power Filter - 20 Gallons Penn Plax Air-Tech Pumps (2) (20 Gallon and 65 Gallon) Penn Plax Therma-Tech Submersible Heater (100 Watt) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater (100 Watt)

05-05-2005, 03:39 AM	#2
RogerMcAllen Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 2,359 Images: 16	You might want to try blanching the zuccini first. Remove the seeds, and put it in a small cup with water just covering the top. Microwave it for 15 seconds or so, take it out, and rinse in cold water. This should soften it enough for them to enjoy. __________________ Have your reviewed your aquarium products yet?

05-05-2005, 04:01 AM	#3
soccerstud652 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: LI, New York Posts: 57	So should I still keep it in a stick form or should I just put it at the top of the water? __________________ Marineland Eclipse System Six Rena Air Pump Model 50 (Airstone) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 50 Watt Glass 20 Gallon Aquarium Penn Plax Cascade 100 Hang-On Power Filter - 20 Gallons Penn Plax Air-Tech Pumps (2) (20 Gallon and 65 Gallon) Penn Plax Therma-Tech Submersible Heater (100 Watt) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater (100 Watt)

05-05-2005, 10:40 AM	#4
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	What kind of Africans do you have? Not all of them are going to like veggies, but if they are mbuna they likely will. They are going to outgrow this 5 [acronym:c266e6d3da="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c266e6d3da] pretty darn soon, also - I am growing out two fry in a 6gal and the yellow lab is only 1.5cm and is already bullying the borleyi. I'd try to sink it by weighting it down or using a suction cup clip. My Africans were not interested in the zuchinni for the first few times I put it in there, but after several times introducing it they finally caught on. I'd keep it in there for 24 hours, remove it, and try again in a day or two. Eventually they'll get the idea. I also agree that blanching and seed removal is a good idea. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

05-05-2005, 01:35 PM	#5
soccerstud652 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: LI, New York Posts: 57	Yeh, they are Mbunas Cichlids. I will try both of those ideas, thank you. __________________ Marineland Eclipse System Six Rena Air Pump Model 50 (Airstone) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 50 Watt Glass 20 Gallon Aquarium Penn Plax Cascade 100 Hang-On Power Filter - 20 Gallons Penn Plax Air-Tech Pumps (2) (20 Gallon and 65 Gallon) Penn Plax Therma-Tech Submersible Heater (100 Watt) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater (100 Watt)

05-05-2005, 02:01 PM	#6
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	They also like frozen peas that have been blanhed and de-skinned. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

05-06-2005, 01:15 PM	#7
cichlid_girl Banned Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4	Mine really like the zucinni. I foudn that spearing it through the middle with a toothpick and then attached it to a toufa rock I had worked quite well. It took mine a few days to get the idea too. THey will figure it out though __________________ "Be the Change you wish to see in the world"

05-06-2005, 01:22 PM	#8
dogspot Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 61	I've been dropping spinach leaves and cucumbers acnchored with a plant anchor. My Tropheus Duboisi really loves the spinach... My plecos go crazy for it also. The Frontosas stay clear of it though. I'll drop it in in the evening... And by morning there is no trace of it anywhere in the tank. I don't do anything to the spinach, just drop it in raw after I rinse it off. The only thing I do to the cucmbers is remove the seeds.

05-07-2005, 08:55 PM	#9
soccerstud652 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: LI, New York Posts: 57	What is a plant anchor? Could you give me a link? __________________ Marineland Eclipse System Six Rena Air Pump Model 50 (Airstone) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 50 Watt Glass 20 Gallon Aquarium Penn Plax Cascade 100 Hang-On Power Filter - 20 Gallons Penn Plax Air-Tech Pumps (2) (20 Gallon and 65 Gallon) Penn Plax Therma-Tech Submersible Heater (100 Watt) Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater (100 Watt)

05-07-2005, 09:23 PM	#10
dogspot Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 61	When you buy a bunched plant at a [acronym:cdf7006448="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:cdf7006448]... It's the piece of metal that holds it together. Probably not sold individually. __________________ 55 Gallon Tanganyika setup 3 Frontosas 4 Leleupis 2 Black Calvi 3 Julidchromus Transcripti 3 Synodontis Petricolas 2 Common Plecos (all are juveniles) Plan to upgrade to about 120 gallons soon

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Question about south and african cichlids	cd5	Cichlid Discussion	13	03-27-2006 09:45 PM
Stocking question on JD's/African Cichlids/etc.	cgcaver	Cichlid Discussion	22	05-16-2005 10:45 PM
cichlids volume 3.4 (formally african cichlids)	cichlid555	Cichlid Discussion	0	04-03-2005 11:27 PM
African Cichlids	oscarbreeder	New Acquisitions	2	09-06-2004 11:35 PM
African Cichlids... what's going on here?	reberly	Cichlid Discussion	6	08-09-2003 12:24 PM