munch-proof plants?

[Lardeelion]

Okay, nothing is munch-proof. I know that. However, my angel has weed whacked his way through everything that's green and over 5 inches tall. Swords, rotala, cabomba, val....gone. He ignores the tiger lotus and the lower plants like crypts and ferns. I'm willing to buy more plants but only to a point.

Has anyone found a tall background plant that isn't so munchable?

And yeah, I know. They're bratty cichlids. It's what they do.

 

[Super_Blueberry]

I heard java ferns have a bitter taste , so most fish leave them alone. On their own the don't get super tall, but on the right piece of driftwood they might substitute as a good background for you...

 

[flitabout]

Well this isn't munch proof but it grows so fast you won't notice if it gets munched anyway. Water wisteria. Lately mine has been growing so fast that I am having to cut and trim it every couple of days. I measured it just to see how fast it was growing and it grew like 4 inches a week! It went from 11 to 15inches.

 

[Lardeelion]

Java fern idea is a great one. I have some big ones so maybe they just need a vertical boost.

I thought about the wisteria too. I had a wisteria jungle for months and of course whacked it back right before Mr. Angel came to live with me. D'oh!

Thanks, folks.

 

[flitabout]

Do you feed any fresh or blanched veggies? That can help keep plant munching to a minimum.

 

[flitabout]

I do blanched zucchini that I rubber band to a rock or you can buy a veggie clip. I have also heard of using cooked shelled peas. But that one I haven't tried yet.

 

[Lardeelion]

I have frozen cubes of some sort of veggie matter (the same company that makes the bloodworm and shrimp cubes) and I think they appreciate them. I haven't given them any for a while. I'll try that. And whatever fresh veggies my kids reject.

 

[Rivercats]

I have 12 large adult angels in my 220g that I have to add blanched zucchini every day along with feeding cooked, deshelled, slightly smushed peas every 2 or 3 days along with their regular food. This is the only way I've been able to keep my angels from eating on a lot of my more delicate plants. And considering they are in a 100% planted 220g tank with many delicate plants I find it's worth the daily effort of adding fresh veggies to the tank daily. I do use veggie clips for everything but the peas.