Do any live plants work on an African cichlid tank

[CraigMac]

Or is it just a waste of time? What about "floating" plants?

Thanks.

 

[Jmedic25]

I have anubias, pleco and mbuna leave it alone. Ive heard java fern works well also

 

[mfdrookie516]

Just depends on the type of fish and where they come from. Most kribs are kept in planted tanks.. while most mbuna destroy plants... but some dont...

 

[Fishguy2727]

Giant onion has worked well for me.

IME fish eating plants has a lot to do with what they are fed. The idea is that if they get everything they need from the food they don't have a craving for the plants. I have had a lot fewer problems with it since all my tanks and my clients' tanks are fed New Life Spectrum exclusively. It doesn't mean they definitely will work, but IME you have a better chance.

 

[CraigMac]

Thanks! Based on a lot of posts here I will be switching to NLS for my guys. Is it readily available in pet stores or order online?

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Yes...

 

[Bully405Customz]

Yeah the onion plant works good. And anarichis(sp?) Has worked pretty well.

 

[joel618]

My mbuna have left my java ferns alone.

Edit: google "cichlid plants 102"

 

[Convict2161]

I have Anubias in my tank. About 15 and there all doing fine.

 

[iheartmyed9]

Yeah the onion plant works good. And anarichis(sp?) Has worked pretty well.

Anachris works well in your tank? Mine are always getting attacked

 

[Niki]

I have found that nana petite works in my tank with my cichlids, only two nibbles out of the whole plant...I don't think they like the taste!

 

[Malawi Freak]

I have about 20 Italian valisneria in my tank and it seems they pick which plants they will leave alone. It grows quick enough if I see a big leaf floating I'm not worried. (actually more like wrapped around my powerhead)

 

[Malawi Freak]

Thanks! Based on a lot of posts here I will be switching to NLS for my guys. Is it readily available in pet stores or order online?

I like hikari. Its cheaper.

 

[CraigMac]

Ok, this shows how much of a newbie I am! Is hikari a type of food or a plant?!!!!

 

[tiger terror]

Ok, this shows how much of a newbie I am! Is hikari a type of food or a plant?!!!!

Hikari is food,lol...in the case of feeding Africans I use New Life Spectrum&Cobalt Cichlid flakes...

 

[QuietPlotter]

I believe Anubia is extremely distasteful, a natural defense mechanism. It's one of the only fish-safe plants.


I have new ones in my cichlid tank, they took a chomp... Spit it out real fast, lol.

 

[Malawi Freak]

I had gone out and bought 5 real nice anubias but within a month my cichlids came through like lumberjacks and slowly chomped down the bases leaf by leaf.

 

[Aspencer]

 

[iheartmyed9]

I've added anubias recently. So far so good. They dont mess with it. They love the anachris though.

 

[Convict2161]

As I've stated and other as well. Anubias and java fern work well. No issues what do ever.



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