Feeding Shrimp Vegetables: How to Offer Cucumber, Zucchini and More

Cucumber, zucchini or spinach are a real treat for shrimp. As soon as the vegetable is in the tank, they come running from everywhere. To make feeding vegetables work well without polluting your water, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here I show you which vegetables are suitable, how to prepare them and how to get them into the tank so they don't disappear into the gravel.

Why vegetables make sense for shrimp

Shrimp are omnivores. In the aquarium they graze on biofilm, algae growth and plant debris all day long. Vegetables are a good addition to regular shrimp food because they add variety and provide fibre. Feeding time is also a good chance to see how many animals you have and whether they are all doing well.

Important: vegetables are a supplement, not the main food. Once or twice a week is plenty.

Which vegetables are suitable?

These have proven themselves:

• Cucumber: the classic, soft and quickly accepted.
• Zucchini: similar to cucumber, a bit firmer and lasts longer.
• Spinach: very popular when briefly blanched, but only in small amounts.
• Bell pepper, carrot and broccoli: good for variety, blanch them first.
• Peas: blanched and without the skin.
• Nettle and walnut leaves: dried, more of a long-lasting food.

Anything seasoned, salted or cooked in oil does not belong in the tank. So leftovers from your own plate are off limits.

How to prepare the vegetables

1. Wash thoroughly or peel. Shrimp are very sensitive to pesticides. Organic vegetables are best. With regular produce, it is better to peel cucumber and zucchini, because residues mainly sit on the skin.

2. Cut into slices. About 0.5 to 1 cm thick is ideal. That way many shrimp can eat at the same time.

3. Blanch briefly. One to two minutes in boiling water softens the vegetables so the shrimp can break them down more easily. Harder vegetables like carrot need a bit longer. Let them cool down before they go into the tank.

A trick if you are in a hurry: freeze the vegetables and thaw them again. This bursts the cell walls and also makes them soft. You can prepare several portions at once this way.

The typical problem: vegetables float and fall apart

If you just drop cucumber into the tank, you know what happens: the slice first floats at the surface, then ends up somewhere behind a root, and the next day soggy pieces are lying in the gravel. There they rot unnoticed and pollute the water.

That is exactly why I developed the feeding holder with suction cup. Spear the vegetable slice onto the two spikes, press the suction cup onto the glass and you are done. The vegetable stays in place, doesn't float up and doesn't end up in the substrate.

A few tips for using it:

• Place it low enough. Attach the holder to the glass a few centimetres above the bottom so the shrimp find the food quickly.
• Keep it visible. At the front glass you can watch them eat and see right away when it is time to take it out.
• Easy to remove. Release the suction cup, wipe off the leftovers, done. No more fishing around in the tank.

The set contains three holders. Handy if you have several tanks or want to leave one in the tank while another dries after rinsing.

How much and for how long?

Only give as much as your shrimp eat within a few hours. For a small group, a single slice is often enough. Take out the leftovers the next day at the latest, even if some is left. If the vegetable gets slimy or develops a white film, remove it immediately.

With the holder you quickly learn how much your group can handle. If a lot is regularly left over, use less next time.

Not just for shrimp

Catfish like bristlenose plecos and many snails also love cucumber and zucchini. Especially with catfish, which otherwise push the vegetable all over the tank, a holder with a suction cup is handy. The food stays where all the animals can find it.

Cleaning

After feeding, simply rinse the holder with lukewarm water or a little aquarium water. A soft brush helps with leftovers. Please avoid hot water, the dishwasher and dish soap, because soap residue has no place in an aquarium.

Quick summary

• Feed cucumber, zucchini, spinach and similar once or twice a week as a supplement.
• Use organic vegetables or peel them, cut into slices and blanch briefly.
• With a feeding holder, the vegetable stays in place and doesn't rot in the gravel.
• Remove leftovers the next day at the latest.

You can find more about feeding in the article Aquarium feeding ring: what it does and which size to choose. If you have questions, feel free to write to me via the contact page.