Mbuna cichlids and plants.

[Hawkins_Mbunas]

I have always kept Mbunas but I am starting to try some plants. I just picked up a cryptocoryne wendtii green to try out. I was wondering what you all think of Mbunas and plants.? Seeing as how they are vegetarian. I like plants for both aesthetic purposes and for the light nitrate control. Please let me know what you all think regarding plants and Mbunas.


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[hollyfish2000]

I have java fern and anubias in my mbuna tank with no issues. I have a fully planted ruby red peacock tank, also with no problems.

 

[chriscoli]

I've had the opposite experience. My mbuna eat EVERYTHING. Even the growing tips of anubias, but not anubias adult leaves (much). In fact, if I have extra plants, I put them in my mbuna tank as food (for example, extra guppy grass).

I notice though, that it's only a few of my mbuna that do the eating, so I suspect that it really depends on what's in your tank. (hence, the widely differing advice)

 

[hollyfish2000]

my mbuna tank only has labs and p. acei (plus one peacock). Plus I don't think anubias or java fern is all that palatable. guppy grass might be a whole 'nother thing

 

[Hawkins_Mbunas]

Well it has been in the tank for a few days now and is doing just fine. My tiretrack eel has taken up residence in it from time to time. The Mbunas seem to be leaving it alone. They tried nibbling at first but gave up. I don't think they like the taste of it. As long as it doesn't suffer crypt-melt looks like this is a winning plant to keep with them.



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[Scorp1us]

My plant experiment went like this. I got some cheap wisteria and they loved it. I just had to get enough going that their munching is negligible impact. That stuff grows like crazy. During that initial stage they'd munch on it a ton. It didn't look good until there was enough of it it didn't matter.

 

[Scorp1us]

I also want to add that anubias isn't really an in-tank plant. It grows faster out of the water. My cichlids nipped the leaves off every plant I have, which doesn't kill it but it grows so slowly it might as well. What is left of my plant is now in the nursery tank with the youngins.