Guppies will try and eat any food you place in their tank, especially if it’s small enough to fit in their mouths. This also includes a wide variety of vegetables. Yet, what about celery? Can guppies eat celery?
Yes, guppies can eat celery. Just make sure you cut down to suitable portions. It’s also preferred that you clean and boil the celery before serving it to remove any bacteria.
However, celery alone isn’t enough for Guppies to survive. They need a wide range of plant-based and meat-based foods to survive and remain healthy.
Can Guppies Eat Celery?
There’s no question that celery has good nutritional value, especially for omnivorous creatures like Guppies. Yet, the question remains whether it’s beneficial to choose celery over other vegetables for your fish.
If you want to feed your guppies celery, here’s a quick rundown of the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Here’s why celery is a healthy choice for your guppies:
Good Source of Antioxidants and Minerals
Celery contains antioxidants, flavonoids, and phytonutrients. These healthy minerals play a major role in reducing inflammation and boosting overall health.
Floats on the Surface
If your Guppies are anything like ours, they probably can’t get enough of tropical fish flakes. It’s practically their favorite food!
We think that part of the fun is that the flakes float on top of the water. you might have noticed how it floats on top of the water.
Then, the guppies have to swim upwards to get their food. It’s a fun little game for them. The best part is that none of it goes to waste.
Celery is just like those flakes. It’s lightweight and will float for a good while before it starts to sink.
Disadvantages
While it may seem like the perfect snack for your fishies, celery does have a few drawbacks. Take a look.
Difficult to Digest
Celery has high water content, making it hard for guppies to digest it. If you decide to feed celery to your fish, then do it in small amounts. Also, try to mix it in with other foods.
Low Nutritional Value
There’s no such a thing as a vegetable with low nutritional value. That said, some vegetables have more nutritional value than others.
Compared to other vegetables, celery’s nutritional value isn’t all that much. It’s mostly made up of just water and fibers.
Strong Odor
Guppies are far from being picky eaters. They’ll munch on pretty much anything. Yet, they may draw a line when it comes to celery because of its smell.
If you notice that your guppies aren’t eating most of the celery, remove it from the tank. Keeping it there in the hope they’ll warm up to it will only make the smell worse.
Difficult to Chew
Have you ever eaten something that’s just too soft and too watery to chew? That’s exactly what celery feels like to fish.
Guppies won’t mind eating celery if mixed with other foods. However, they won’t be happy if the entire meal is made up of just celery.
Can Guppies Live On Celery Alone?
Guppies can rely on celery or any other vegetable for some of the time. Yet, they can’t live on celery alone. They need a well-balanced diet that consists of both meat-based and plant-based foods in their diet.
In fact, these omnivorous fish need a diet rich in protein to ensure healthy growth and development. So, if you run out of food temporarily and you only have celery on hand, then you’re fine. Just don’t make it a daily habit.
Some people decide they need to cut back on expenses, or they don’t have the time to be bothered with buying the right type of fish food. If that’s the case, then don’t expect your guppies to live very long.
In addition to their shorter life span, they also won’t mature to their full size. Not only that, but they’ll be more susceptible to various illnesses.
How To Feed Celery to Guppies?
We’ve come to the conclusion that celery is an acceptable side dish. Now, it’s time we showed you the best way to serve it.
Pull Out the Leaves
Guppies can eat any part of celery. However, it’s best to use soft leaves rather than the rigid top.
Celery is already difficult to chew for guppies. If you aim for the softer leaves and avoid the rigid parts, it’ll be easier to digest.
Wash the Leaves
Wash the leaves properly with water until any visible dirt is gone. Don’t use any cleaning ingredients. They’re easily absorbed by the leaves and can make your fish sick.
Cut the Leaves
Guppies won’t eat celery unless you cut it down to portions they can fit into their mouths. Measure their tropical fish flakes and cut the celery to approximately that size.
Boil the Leaves
Before serving the celery, boil it in clean water. Boiling helps reduce its potent smell and makes it easier to digest.
This step is also important because it kills off any bacteria that might be present on the leaves.
Serve
Spread the celery on the surface of the water. Keep an eye on your guppies to see how they react. If they gobble it all down in a couple of minutes, add in a little bit more.
Remove the Excess
This doesn’t apply to celery alone, but to all types of fish food. Any extra leftovers should be removed from the tank once the guppies are done eating.
Food residuals are perfect for bacterial gatherings. That’s something you want as little of as possible in your fish tank.
Final Thoughts
Feeding celery to your Guppies has its pros and cons. However, if you do your best to properly clean and serve this crunchy veggie to your fish, then there’s no harm in offering it as an occasional snack.
However, compared to other vegetables, celery’s nutritional value falls short. If you want healthier alternatives for your guppies, try lettuce, cucumbers, or zucchini.
As always, clean them, cut them into small pieces, then boil them before serving. Your guppies will love them!