How to Blanch Vegetables for Fish and Shrimp
Plecos, mollies, goldfish, shrimp and snails all do well with some vegetables in their diet. A minute or two in boiling water makes them soft enough to eat and heavy enough to sink.
Wash the vegetable, slice it, boil it for one to two minutes, cool it in clean water, then hold it on the bottom of the tank. Take out whatever is left within a day.
Good vegetables to use
| Vegetable | How to prepare | Popular with |
|---|---|---|
| Zucchini | Slices, blanch 1 to 2 min | Plecos, shrimp, snails |
| Cucumber | Slices, blanch about 1 min | Plecos, snails |
| Spinach (palak) | Whole leaves, blanch under 1 min | Shrimp, snails, mollies |
| Green peas | Blanch, then remove the skin | Goldfish, many small fish |
| Carrot | Thin slices, boil until soft | Shrimp, plecos |
Step by step
- Wash it well. Shrimp are very sensitive to pesticides. Peel the skin if you are unsure where the vegetable came from.
- Slice it. Use pieces thin enough to soften quickly.
- Boil plain water. Add no salt, oil or spices.
- Blanch it. One to two minutes is usually enough. You should be able to push a fingernail into it.
- Cool it. Drop it into clean cool water so it does not warm the tank.
- Weigh it down. Blanched vegetables often still float, so see below.
How to make it sink
A stainless steel fork pushed through the slice is the classic trick. A vegetable clip on the glass works too, though the food then hangs in mid-water, so shrimp and snails on the bottom may not reach it. Avoid random stones or metal you cannot identify, and never use lead plant weights for this.
How long to leave it in
Take it out within 24 hours, or sooner once it turns mushy. Rotting food fouls the water and feeds pest snails. Start with a small piece, see how much gets eaten, and adjust. Once or twice a week suits most tanks.
Getting it out without a wet arm
Tie a length of cotton thread to the slice or to the fork, and leave the end hanging over the rim. In the morning, pull it up. Long aquarium tongs also work well in deep tanks.