RBPs loving broccoli

[dlobom]

I sometimes feed my plecos a piece of boiled broccoli. I usually do it after the light are out, but today one of my RBPs got hold of it and started a feeding frenzy, turns out they seem to love it.

Is this bad for them? is not that im going to start feeding them broccoli, but I was just wondering If they might get sick from it.

BTW before you ask, Im sure theyre piranhas not Pacus, how I know?

Pacus wouldnt fit in my tank by now

 

[NCStateFisher]

it'd probably be better for them nutritionally if you fed it to them raw rather than boiled, but shouldn't be a problem - i've heard people say they feed their plecos brocoli stems so i dont think there's anything overly fish-dangerous about it

 

[Lupin]

With veggies, I'd feed them raw. The nutrients leak out when boiled.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

With veggies, I'd feed them raw. The nutrients leak out when boiled.

doesn't it need to be soft though? When i first considered feeding veggies, i think it was for a pleco, i was also instructed to boil

 

[Sanjo Eel]

It is great for them. In the wild reds eat about 17% vegetable matter if I remember correctly. I have fed peas and cut carrots but I guess I will have to try some broccoli too!
It is good to parboil the veggies first but not absolutely necessary imo. By parboil I mean about a minute in boiling water. It helps break down the cell walls of the plant for easier digestion. You want to basically heat the veggies through then into an ice bath to halt cooking. If you boil the hell out of it it will lose a lot of nutrients like Lupin said.

 

[sixball]

I actually used brocolli in homemade fish food mixes for saltwater fish to help prevent and reverse HITH. The vitamin A is very good for them, so if your fish will eat it, that's great.