edible plant?

**chooz** · 7th Jun 2008, 23:44

Not sure if this is the right sub-forum to ask...

Can anyone recommend any plant that fish will eat when they are really hungry? Especially for tetra and cory.

**FishSoup** · 8th Jun 2008, 12:36

i think its more a problem of fidning the correct fish species, as opposed to the correct plant species.. the fish in question has to be herbivorous in the first place. For most such fishes though (eg. silver dollars) the plants will be eaten even if they're already well-fed with alternative foods.

**Verminator** · 8th Jun 2008, 20:43

You want fish to eat plants? Huh?!

Well as a general rule plants with finer leaves tend to be eaten, species such as Anubias never really get touched due to their leaves being to tough. So the softer/finer the leaves fish will tend to eat them.

Then theres also the issue some fish just don't eat plants, whereas others do the extent they become a pest (eg mollies)

**chooz** · 9th Jun 2008, 09:00

Thanks for the replies.

I currently have tetras and corys in a tank that has java fern and java moss only.

I will be going away for 2 weeks. There will be no one to take care of the fish while I am away. So I am hoping that the fish will eat those plants. But I read somewhere that fish do not eat java fern.

Does anyone know of any plant that tetras and corys will eat when they are really hungry? I will just put those in while I am away.

**helicraz** · 9th Jun 2008, 10:10

as long as the water stats remains stable, they will be fine.

If you are very worried, you can get a auto-feeder. But forget about the "holiday food", these food mess with the water stats.

**yyylarry** · 9th Jun 2008, 10:15

It will be best if you could get someone to feed your faunas while you are away or get one of those feeder with timer.

On a side note, my tetras survived 8 days with no food. Of course i feed them heavily before moving off.

**torque6** · 9th Jun 2008, 12:52

I havent been that long away from holiday, but fish do survive without food for about 10 days. Just make sure they are well fed before you board the plane, or likewise install a auto feeder. They can be easily bought from LFS.

**valice** · 9th Jun 2008, 15:30

I've not fed my fishes for 2 weeks already! Even although I'm around. Hahaha...
They are doing fine still.. So no problems about no feedings..

**AquaObsession** · 9th Jun 2008, 16:14

What a cruel man! Fish suffering from rising cost of living.

Well, my fishes sometimes go unfed from a week too

but i think if you can get someone to feed them every 3 days it wouldbe good, or once in that 8 days period.

I find fishes more responsive when fed little amount, frequently.

**Verminator** · 9th Jun 2008, 16:15

Fish are hardy little blighters when it comes down to it, 2 weeks is the maximum amount of time they say they can go without food, they should be fine

**chooz** · 9th Jun 2008, 21:16

2 weeks without food is ok...that's what I heard too.

But it would be good if there are plants that they can eat if they really want to. Any recommendation?

I am not thinking of a auto feeder....budget constrain...

**Verminator** · 10th Jun 2008, 06:01

I'd honestly not bother mate, i doubt they'll eat it anyway to be frank. So you may end up buying the ugliest looking plant to be eaten, and after your holiday it'll be still there in perect condition.

I honestly think your better off just leaving your tank, as they said perhaps give them a belly full before you go and leave it at that. I doubt they'll eat your existing plants anyway.

**helicraz** · 10th Jun 2008, 10:31

Originally Posted by chooz

2 weeks without food is ok...that's what I heard too.

But it would be good if there are plants that they can eat if they really want to. Any recommendation?

I am not thinking of a auto feeder....budget constrain...

There are cheap auto-feeders at 151 Upper Serangoon. Can't exactly recall the price, but it is definitely very much cheaper than most.