Giving floating plants to the fish?
Are our fish actually herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, or insectivores?
What is their true nature?
The rule in the world of fish is generally that anything that is the right size to fit in the mouth and is edible or even alive is consumed.
Exceptions are quite rare.
Some fish are strictly carnivorous, such as the pike, the Betta, or many killifish...
But others, on the other hand, do not refuse some algae or tender plants (carp, platy, goldfish, etc.), or even decomposing plant sediments.
Those who raise goldfish outdoors, in a natural pond, know their appetite for water lentils.
"If they can access it completely, they are even the best way to totally eradicate the water lentils in a pond."
It is known that this plant-based intake is essential for them, due to the particular shape of their intestine.
Without plants, constipation lurks!
Those who have large goldfish can therefore offer them other floating plants to discover their preferences: azolla (rich in protein), large water lentil, three-lobed duckweed (quite tender), etc.
For goldfish in an aquarium, having a small culture of water lentils at your disposal is definitely a great idea.
You will thus have a supply of duckweed and therefore enough to replenish as soon as the entire previous ration has been consumed...
But most tropical freshwater species are content to nibble on the algae (often brush algae) that cover plants, sand, and glass.
"This does not prevent them from enjoying a bit of boiled salad from time to time. Guppies, platys, swordtails, and gouramis really like that."
But from there to attacking living plants, not softened by cooking, few dare to risk it!
What is the point of providing floating plants to your fish?
I understood it by observing the goldfish and their appetite for water lentils.
"Why does a fish capable of consuming plants seem to prefer those that float, and snub more those that live underwater?"
A close observation of all the most appreciated floating plants (small duckweeds and large and azolla) provides an answer.
Indeed, the common point of these floating plants is that they are normally colonized by aphids. It is even difficult to find any in nature that are not covered by them.
If you observe your floating plants in the aquarium, it is even very likely that aphids are parasitizing them without you ever having paid attention!
And above all, you must not worry about it...
Indeed, when a goldfish devours water lentils, it simultaneously swallows a large quantity of aphids. And thus, protein-rich insects.
This fish is not so vegetarian after all!
The more floating plants host aphids, the more attractive they are to these fish.
Here is what brings us to the other fish: if you have floating plants in your aquarium, and by chance they are covered in aphids, your fish will be busy all day watching for those that will inevitably fall into the water.
"For them, it is a high-quality natural food available at all times."
And so, very often, without us suspecting anything!
Azolla, water lentil, and large water lentil attract many aphids, even in aquariums. Floating plants never lack water and ideally nourish the aphids. Their exponential growth even makes them an inexhaustible food source for establishing their colonies.
Aquazolla does not use any treatment products at all.
You will probably find some aphids on the floating plants you ordered.
And if that's not the case, don't worry: they will come very soon!
To conclude, floating plants are a source of food for all fish. Whether they feed directly on the plant itself, or indirectly on the insects it attracts...
To learn more about natural aquaristics, don't forget the Mattier blog.
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