Cucumber and zucchini dissolving

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mr.waffles1842

mr.waffles1842

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
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Location
Massachusetts
My cucumber and my zucchini, which i blanched, all seem to just dissolve and rot away. Im worried about this, and i dont know if thats whats sposed to happen. Can anyone tell me if its common or if i shouldnt use it? should i have thicker slices? or use another type of veggies? i love using celery, but is there anything else?
 
mr.waffles1842 said:
My cucumber and my zucchini, which i blanched, all seem to just dissolve and rot away. Im worried about this, and i dont know if thats whats sposed to happen. Can anyone tell me if its common or if i shouldnt use it? should i have thicker slices? or use another type of veggies? i love using celery, but is there anything else?
Click to expand...

How did u know it is rotting away? It could just be ur fish eating it. How long did u put them in Ur tank for? Because after a day or so, they tend to carry that dissolving appearance, so its normal. Don't leave it in there for more than 48hours. My ottos finish their zucchini within a day!
 
You might also be boiling it for a bit too long. "Blanching" means that you start the water and get it boiling before you do anything with the zucchini - and then once the water is boiling you throw the sections into the water for only about 2-3 minutes or until they start to get a little soft.

Then, I take them out - cool them in a cold water bath - and then usually feed one slice and immediately freeze the rest for later.
 
mr.waffles1842 said:
Huh.... Well it gets all clear, and starts to break up. i took it out, but it was in since yesterday....
Click to expand...

That's sounds normal to me. How long do u blanch it for? I normally just microwave my zucchinis for 30sec! And it's all good!
 
Vircomore said:
You might also be boiling it for a bit too long. "Blanching" means that you start the water and get it boiling before you do anything with the zucchini - and then once the water is boiling you throw the sections into the water for only about 2-3 minutes or until they start to get a little soft.

Then, I take them out - cool them in a cold water bath - and then usually feed one slice and immediately freeze the rest for later.
Click to expand...

Leaving it for 2-3 minutes in boiling water is no longer blanching. Well depending on the thickness of the zucchinis but generally half a min is more than enough.

Edit: sorry didn't read the whole post. U are blanching the whole zucchinis I believe? Haha my bad
 
Ahh yes. I usually make my zucchini slices about 1/3in thick because the veggie clip that I have really can't hold on to anything thinner, and it gives more surface for them to share since they can eat from the middle or around the edges. :)

(my 3 Otos)
 
mr.waffles1842 said:
carrots? beans? anything?
Click to expand...

Someone on here said celery. Blanched of course. I haven't tried it yet myself though
 
+1 on blanching for only 30 seconds. I put mine in raw...if they can rasp wood they can eat a raw cucumber and zucchini. If you don't like that idea try carrots-they are harder than the others to begin with and won't get so soft when you blanch them.
 
mr.waffles1842 said:
that was me. Its like a giant stick of algae for them all.
Click to expand...

Hahah. Your advice came full circle. I am going to.give it a try though.
 
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