ATTACK OF THE ZUCCHINI!! Feeding Vegetables to our Fish and Inverts

This time of year, I get BOMBARDED with free zucchini (courgette) from well-intentioned neighbors. Luckily, it is an excellent food source for our fish and snails.

[AquariumCoop]

Good educational video. The binder clip trick is a good one I hadn't seen. A little piece of fishing line on it and you've got yourself quite the feeder.

[anthonyragan]

Zucchini planks are also handy for trapping pest snails: I put one on the substrate at night, and by morning I just pull it out covered in snails.

[claudialinse]

I've just started fish keeping and have been using a binder clip with dental floss attached to pull it out. Thank you for validating my whacko process!

[carlsamuelson]

Thank you
We Appreciate your information, experiences and vital data, keep up your excellent blogs

[finalout]

Hi Rachel. Great vid. Getting back into aquariums and I find your I formation super helpful and straight to the point. Appreciate it much. Have a super one!

[MarksShrimpTanks]

Yup its a food source I really should use more (because I grow it) packed with vitamin A and vitamin C and a whole host of minerals ...got to bear in mind though that if it is store bought and you do remove the skin you will be losing alot of its nutritional goodness.

[Terufe]

Your hair is totally badass! Btw I came from king of diy. I would love to see some videos on your big fish😆

[liapalms]

I was looking forward to seeing them eat

[TheAquariumShow]

you are an amazing person, ive learned A LOT from you :) thank u so much, ily

[samrichardson]

Wait... turtles?! Make some turtle videos! That would be awesome

[TrentAyers]

This was such an awesomazing tip! Thanks!

[ReneeUnrated]

I got a clown Pelco and I needed this video

[brandonfireking]

to add to this, avoid overblanching. I fed zucchini to my various plecos a lot, i would boil it for up to 5 minutes at a time because i was new and didn't know i was overdoing it. As soon as the plecos touched it, it would fall apart and make a mess. I mean, they ate it, so it wasnt an issue, but it was a big mess.

[Blackfox_Kitsune]

for everyone in the rest of the world wondering WTF a Zuchini, WELL it is a courgette unless your in In Britain and Ireland a fully grown zucchini is referred to as a marrow. (many names for the same plant )

[eliasvarn]

One summer we grew zucchini... We were overrun! We had some the size of small watermelons and friends and neighbors trying to give us some too! I wish I had had the army of catfish you do so none of it was wasted

[jolenechase]

I put a big slice of zucchini into my tank. My mystery snails LOVE them. I have 3 adults and a bunch of babies. I normally blanch, scrub and remove the peel as well. However i just let it float and watch as all the snails get on it and sink it. Quite interesting to watch them all march up the glass after it if they are hungry enough. 😁

[seanneal]

I use a shish kabob skewer and stick it down in there. What they dont eat it's easy to pull out. Just stick it down through the hole in the lid.

[philthytanks]

When I Blanche my zucchini and cucumber, it usually gets water logged enough that it sinks on it’s own then. I always buy from the farmers market so I know it’s safe for my fish. Does anyone know if fish prefer it raw rather than blanched and/or if boiling/ blanching too long has negative effects? I’m beginning to think I cook mine too long, my plecos devour it but my Cory’s aren’t huge fans. I’m wondering if they prefer less cooked possibly?

[icegypsy]

Thanks Rachel, that was really helpful. have Otto Cats for the 1st time, and want to offer them something other than Algae wafers. Picked up zucchini today, so will see how they take to that.

[narrateanewtunnel]

Thank you Rachel for this video.
I just started feeding my bottom dwelling fish zucchini. I was unsure of the blanching process and you made it clear to me, thank you!
I have 2 nerite snails....they never get to the zucchini in time :(
Any suggestions on how to get the nerites a portion?
Thank you so much and have a wonderful day!