What to NOT feed your BN

There's a bunch of threads on what BN like, and it seems like most things are on there. I didn't see anywhere that there was a list of things to avoid, so I'd like to start one.

Meat
Some BN need meat protein in their diets, but I'd avoid adding most meats to a tank for them to eat. That's for a couple reasons. The first being meats will foul water in the same way a dead fish would. That's partially because meat takes a little longer to eat than produce does. If there's enough mouths to consume it before it can foul the water then that isn't an issue, but the type of meat protein can be. Fish flesh would be suitable, but avoid any meat that has a fat in it that you would need to heat up in order for it to melt (like beef or pork). Fish are unable to digest it properly. If you're serious about wanting to add meat protein then stick with fish and bugs. My personal thought is that there are enough prepared meat protein foods on the market that are far more convenient and safe then risking experimenting with table scraps.

Anything mushy
Things like mashed potatoes would foul water quickly. I'd tend to guess noodles would be on that list of mushies, too. If you're not sure if it would hold up, try putting some in a glass of water first to see how it does. You don't need to be clogging up the filter.

I've never heard if anyone has tried citrus.

What else have you guys heard for feeding no-nos.

Good idea andy a fresh idea...i will have a good luk into this......in the mean time anybody else care to add...

Dose anybody know the benifishal diference between zukini and cucumber

No difference as far as I am away

BTW several of my BN's are in my Discus tanks and they eat the Beefheart I feed, I just make sure I also put plenty of Algae Wafers etc in, they also like FBW and FBS, granules,

tbh anything that hits the tank

I think a mixed and varied diet is best

ltaylor88 wrote:

Dose anybody know the benifishal diference between zukini and cucumber

Cucumber has a higher vitamin content than courgette - but it also has a higher water content. From my limited experience cucumber disintegrates quicker than courgette and gives your fish a "fat tum".Raw courgette packs in more fibre, carbs etc. and is more slowly digested so they get more out of it - plus they don't poo as much. So even though cucumber has more vitamins from what I know of fish biologyI'm not sure they absorb them. I tend to feed cucumber to newly introduced fish as they ignore courgette but find cucumber (because I'm sure its more water based so they can smell it in an unfamiliar environment).

mmmm what not to feed. high protien on a regular basis the only meat i put in my tanks is raw prawns to condition my females.

Cat food :|
In all seriousness though, this is a good thread, will be keeping my eye on this one!

Spreebok wrote:

Cat food :|
In all seriousness though, this is a good thread, will be keeping my eye on this one!

I suppose ice cream is out, too. jk

BTW, Jagtazman, you mentioned beef heart. Beef heart is actually extremely lean, which is one of the reasons its used as fish food. Most people use prepared beef heart, which is safer. Some breeders of various fish will use frozen beef heart (that has had all the fat trimmed from it before freezing) and simply shave it with a razor blade. Great conditioner for breeding and fast growth, as long as its not the only part of the diet.

Andi wrote:

Spreebok wrote:

Cat food :|
In all seriousness though, this is a good thread, will be keeping my eye on this one!

I suppose ice cream is out, too. jk

BTW, Jagtazman, you mentioned beef heart. Beef heart is actually extremely lean, which is one of the reasons its used as fish food. Most people use prepared beef heart, which is safer. Some breeders of various fish will use frozen beef heart (that has had all the fat trimmed from it before freezing) and simply shave it with a razor blade. Great conditioner for breeding and fast growth, as long as its not the only part of the diet.

I make my own beefheart for my discus

My BN's also go mad for my homemade beefheart mix. But as with my discus, they get a good varied diet.
Courgette doesn't last long in my tanks, especially when the clown loach spot it!