Flowerhorns and vegetables

[Cichlids keeper]

Has anyone ever fed a flowerhorn a diet where there is more vegetables as opposed to protein? I'm interested in the heath effects of something like like this. This thread isn't meant to talk about pellet food btw, it's about actual fresh food or home made food.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

I do feed a variety of pellets that have a higher veggie content. HOWEVER, since you asked about homemade foods yes I do make my own. I crab, clam, and fish. Its my favorite hobby. I take blue claw crab, steam it, then mash it with fresh steamed kelp that I get from the bay. My fish devour it!!!!

 

[Cichlids keeper]

I do feed a variety of pellets that have a higher veggie content. HOWEVER, since you asked about homemade foods yes I do make my own. I crab, clam, and fish. Its my favorite hobby. I take blue claw crab, steam it, then mash it with fresh steamed kelp that I get from the bay. My fish devour it!!!!

I'm surprised that you can use wild caught animals, I honestly didn't know that Flowerhorns can handle that even when it is cooked. That's an interesting recipe and it seems pretty healthy, I actually am pretty interested in homemade food, because it seems that sometimes it can be as good or better than high quality pellets if well managed. I want to take up stuff like fishing but I don't have a lot of time to spend on fishing trips and stuff like that, but anyway thanks!

 

[Magnus_Bane]

I'm surprised that you can use wild caught animals, I honestly didn't know that Flowerhorns can handle that even when it is cooked. That's an interesting recipe and it seems pretty healthy, I actually am pretty interested in homemade food, because it seems that sometimes it can be as good or better than high quality pellets if well managed. I want to take up stuff like fishing but I don't have a lot of time to spend on fishing trips and stuff like that, but anyway thanks!

Lol honestly FH's will eat almost anything ya give em. Mine will eat almost any insect, pinkie mice, spring peeper frogs, baby Gartner snakes, fish, clams, shellfish, pretty much anything with protein in it. I noticed that with the snakes atleast they have a hard time digesting the skin so probably best to skin them first before feeding. P.s. even when the snake is skinned, beheaded, and gutted they will still wiggle around for a good half hour just on nerves alone. Mine never seemed to care much for plants at all except for algea wafers.

 

[Ruturaj]

I would advise not to make food with non aquatic veggies. It's hard to get different kinds of algae opposed to getting different kinds of aquatic meats to make food. That's why pellets usually work out better.

 

[Cichlids keeper]

I would advise not to make food with non aquatic veggies. It's hard to get different kinds of algae opposed to getting different kinds of aquatic meats to make food. That's why pellets usually work out better.

Why would you suggest to not use non-aquatic veggies?

 

[RD.]

Why would you suggest to not use non-aquatic veggies?

Aquatic v terrestrial

Slowly but surely i've started cutting out fruit and veg from my fishes diet. I'm not particularly happy doing this because they love nothing more than sliced, diced, or chopped broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries to name just a few. The problem I have is that...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[RD.]

Lol honestly FH's will eat almost anything ya give em.

Agreed. Unfortunately FH are also by & large genetic weaklings, with gastrointestinal systems that are prone to digestive issues, often leading to Spironucleus aka Hexamita. IMHO over the long haul ones best approach to meeting their nutritional needs is feeding them a high quality pellet. Not only is there no need to feed the various types of foods that you listed, I would personally never recommend it.

 

[Cichlids keeper]

Agreed. Unfortunately FH are also by & large genetic weaklings, with gastrointestinal systems that are prone to digestive issues, often leading to Spironucleus aka Hexamita. IMHO over the long haul ones best approach to meeting their nutritional needs is feeding them a high quality pellet. Not only is there no need to feed the various types of foods that you listed, I would personally never recommend it.

Do you know if FHs can eat duckweed or other aquatic plants? I know it's pretty good for goldfish and that a lot of them like it, so could it be a good thing to mix it in once in a while with a high quality pellet?

 

[RD.]

See following past comment ......

When collected fresh, approx. 90+% water content (a non-nutrient), high in carbs, ash, and fiber, the latter being what Duane was referring to. As far as actual nutrient content, including protein/fat/minerals etc, that would be dependent on the water they are grown out in, so that will obviously vary.

But I agree, all fish, even those that are classified as carnivorous, should be consuming some aquatic plant matter on a regular basis. I supplement mine with dry aquatic based commercial food, I would personally never introduce duckweed to a tank due to the mess it can make if not kept under control. That, and the nutrient levels are a lot higher when aquatic plant matter is fed on a dry matter basis, vs fresh.

For reference:

Duckweed | Feedipedia

www.feedipedia.org

duckweed nutritional composition