How to Prepare Veggies for Your Molly

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Molly fish in the wild feast on scraps and floating bits of food in the water, but in an aquarium, they can thrive off of a mix of nutritious fish flakes and veggies. A molly fish diet should be mostly fish flakes, but if you want to give your fish a little treat every once in a while, they absolutely love veggies in almost all forms. Be sure to prepare them correctly, as the toughness of some veggies can make them hard for a molly fish to eat.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Preparing Veggies for Your Molly Fish

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  1. Wash a whole zucchini or squash and chop it into 1 ⁄ 4  in (0.64 cm) slices. Bring a full pot of water to a boil and drop the slices into the pot for 1 minute. This will blanch the zucchini or squash, softening its skin so your molly fish will have no trouble eating the treat. Let the slices cool for a few minutes before you drop the slices into the water.
    • It's important to let the slices cool before you serve it to the fish or it may get shocked by the sudden introduction to cold water and become difficult for your molly fish to eat! [1]
    • A single zucchini medallion or squash slice can be a lot of food for a molly fish. Use a few slices if you have a group of molly fish, and only use one or two if you only have a few molly fish.
    • Freeze the remaining medallions or slices in a sealed container. When you take them out, keep the container covered and add 1 ⁄ 4  in (0.64 cm) of water to it. Then, microwave the zucchini or squash for a minute or two to reheat and re-blanch the veggies!
  2. Wash a whole cucumber and cut away its outer skin . Wash the cucumber under water to get rid of contaminants and pesticides, then slice off the skin with a chef's knife in long, sweeping motions away from your body. Cut the cucumber into thin 1 ⁄ 8  in (0.32 cm) slices, then drop the slices into the tank.
    • Cucumber skin is very easy to remove, so don't use too much pressure on the knife or you could cut through the cucumber and cut yourself.
    • You do not need to blanch or soften cucumbers, as long as you remove the skin, as the flesh itself is soft enough for fish to eat.
    • Use about one thin slice per fish, and take out any pieces they don't finish at the end of the day.
    • Store the leftover slices in a sealed container in the fridge. Cucumber will stay fresh for about 4 days after being chopped. [2]
    • Don't leave cucumber out for longer than a few hours or it will totally dry out and become unusable.
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  3. Pour regular green peas into a bowl and microwave them for just over 1 minute. This will make the shell soft enough to peel off. [3] Using your fingers, take the peas out of their shells and throw away the skin. There are practically no uses for pea shells, unfortunately. You should be left with a bowl full of peeled and shelled peas, perfectly soft and at the perfect temperature for your fish. [4] Drop them in the aquarium and watch your fish go wild!
    • If they don't seem fully cooked or if you are having trouble removing the pea shells, microwave them for another 30 seconds to loosen the skin a bit more.
    • Store the peas in the fridge and be aware that they won't last more than a few days. Shelled peas are very delicate and susceptible to drying out. Store microwaved peas in a layer of water that just covers them to keep them fresh for a little longer.
    • It may be a better use of resources to simply prepare a small handful of peas rather than the whole frozen bag. This will ensure that your fish is getting the freshest and best veggies possible.
  4. Fresh spinach is great for molly fish as it is rich in nutrients and iron. Chop some fresh spinach into small pieces, and spread it around the tank as you would with regular fish flakes. You can boil the spinach if you would like to make it easier for your molly fish to chew, but it is not necessary as fresh spinach is soft enough already.
    • Avoid using frozen spinach, as it rots much more quickly than fresh spinach. [5] If it is your only option, you should let it thaw first and saute it slightly to get rid of excess water, then chop and drop it into the tank. As it rots quickly, remove it from the tank as best as you can at the end of the day with a net.
  5. Cut broccoli stalks into small, fish-sized pieces while you bring a pot of water to a boil. Drop the broccoli pieces in the boiling water for 1 minute, then remove them and allow the pieces to cool on a plate. Spread the pieces around the tank for your mollies to munch on!
    • Only use 1 small broccoli stalk per molly fish, as it is quite rich and will fill your fish quickly.
    • Chop only 1 at a time, but if you want to prepare a lot in advance, store the extras in a sealed container in the freezer. When you are ready to give your fish another veggie treat, microwave the broccoli for 1 minute and allow it to cool before serving it to your molly.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Providing Veggies the Right Way

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  1. In their natural habitat, molly fish eat all sorts of foods that come their way. Veggies can be a source of essential nutrients, but don't give them veggies every day. Your fish may start to avoid fish flakes so it can get more veggies, but veggies should only be offered as once-in-a-while treats.
    • Variety is important in a fish's diet, so don't avoid giving them veggies altogether. Just be aware of how much you are giving your fish and make sure they continue to eat their fish flakes. [6]
  2. Watch your fish closely while it eats and time it while it munches on the veggies. If it is eating for more than 3 to 5 minutes, reduce the number of veggies you give it in the next feeding time. Remove the veggies after the fish gets bored of them or after they begin to deteriorate in the water. [7]
    • Some foods, such as spinach and cucumber, will last for a few days in the water. As long as your molly fish doesn't seem to be easing too much of it constantly, feel free to leave it in there, but keep a watch on your fish's eating habits so you don't overfeed it.
  3. Don't put all the veggies in a pile in one place or your molly won't have to spend any energy getting its special snack. Instead, spread the food around the tank in different locations so it has to hunt for them.
    • Fish can get bored sitting in one place for a long period of time, so it's important to engage your molly by forcing it to swim around looking for its food.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Do scraps or vegetable food increase algae in a fish tank?
    Ken Colby
    Saltwater Aquarist
    Ken Colby is a Saltwater Aquarist and the Owner of High Tide Aquatics based in Oakland, California. With over 30 years of experience, Ken is the only local fish store owner in the United States that is certified by Humble Fish, the marine disease expert forum, as a Quarantined Fish Vendor. Ken creates in-person and online educational programming in partnership with other marine science and biology professionals. He also launched High Tide Aquatics’ YouTube channel in 2023, sharing recordings of events he’s hosted as well as "how-to" videos covering everything from coral fragging to kalkwasser dosing. He's been a member of the Bay Area Reefers club for over 19 years.
    Ken Colby
    Saltwater Aquarist
    Expert Answer
    Scraps or vegetable food in a fish tank do not directly cause problematic algae growth. The misconception often arises that high nutrient levels, such as phosphates and nitrates, lead to algae issues. However, problematic algae is primarily a result of a deficiency in herbivore predators within the aquarium. Introducing more herbivore predators to the tank is effective in controlling algae, regardless of the nutrient levels present.
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  • Question
    Can mollies eat chopped up pieces of lettuce?
    Community Answer
    It is better if they don't. Choose squishier foods such as peas and squash.
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  • Question
    Can I use Aqueon tropical flakes?
    Community Answer
    Those are not the best brand, but they can work. Try pellets made for mollies and sinking veggie snacks.
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      Tips

      • The first time you feed your fish these foods you may want to add a little bit of their regular fish food to get them in the feeding mood.
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      • Continuously watch your molly's feeding habits and remove the veggies from the tank if it seems to be eating too much. Offer fewer veggies next time you give them a treat.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about caring for fish, check out our in-depth interview with Ken Colby .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.mollyfishcare.com/homemade-molly-fish-food/
      2. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17058
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d0NuIl-9h8
      4. ↑ http://www.mollyfishcare.com/homemade-molly-fish-food/
      5. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/vegetables/fresh-vegetables/spinach/
      6. ↑ http://www.molly-fish.com/
      7. ↑ https://www.theaquariumguide.com/articles/mollies-care-guide

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To prepare veggies for your molly, try peeling a cucumber and cutting it up into thin slices for your molly fish. You can also microwave peas for 1 minute, peel off the outer shells, and drop them into your molly's tank. If you want to feed your molly fish tougher vegetables like zucchini, squash, and broccoli stalks, blanch them in boiling water for 1 minute first so they're soft enough for your fish to munch on. For tips on how to feed your molly fish the right amount of veggies every week, scroll down!

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