Feeding Yams

[doogie]

Hi there, after worrying because my Pleco didn't seem eating, and he didn't seem to like the new wafers I bought, I discovered with a bit of reading on this site that they liked Yams, thru trial and error I discovered that he really liked cooked ones. But after leaving it in overnite, my water is cloudy. So should I let him eat for a bit (it was demolished in about 2 hrs) and then take it out to avoid the cloudy condition.
Thanks

[taureandragon76]

Don't cook it first, just par boil them

[Fishkeeper]

Good to know, I just bought a yam for mine and was not sure how to prepare for them.....

[charles]

just take the skin off, wash it, then put in tank. i don't cook or par boil mine.

[doogie]

So by parboiling you mean about 10 mins? Skin on or off?
I know this is a fish forum and I am looking for cooking tips but....
Thanks

[2wheelsx2]

I just scrub mine with a brush really well skin and all and cut in half, put on 2 screwcumbers and put it in for up to 24 hours. I don't cool or parboil anything. Even my cherry shrimp enjoy the raw yams.

[possum]

If you haven't fed veg before, try raw zucchini first. Some of my plecs have taken a while to get used to the raw yams.

[doogie]

Tried blanched zucchini and it was a great hit.

[possum]

Tried blanched zucchini and it was a great hit.

Good to hear. Now that they've had a taste, try this: cut a big chunk in half lenthwise and put it in the tank skin side down (I stick a little teaspoon handle through it to make it sink). They should eat the insides. It's easier if you can switch to raw vegies, more nutritious for the fish, and less likely to foul the water. Best of luck.

[BigFatLyre]

"blanche", which is kind of "in and out"; also, try just about any kind of squash/pumpkin since they're in the stores cheap right now and none I'm trying break down as fast as cukes or Zucchini's.

my garden pumpkin didn't stand a chance; the bnp were on it like .............