Planted aquarium for Texas cichlid

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mason87

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Sep 3, 2013
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I recently bought a 125 gallon tank off Craigslist. I've been out of the hobby for about four years, but I used to have a 55 with misc Central and South American cichlids, and the Texas cichlid I had was always my favorite, so all I knew for sure when I bought this new tank was there would eventually be a Texas cichlid in it. I happened across an ad on Craigslist last night for a full size Texas cichlid between 11 and 12 inches long. So I have my tank, and in a few weeks when I've got it up and running, I'll have my fish.

I've read on different sites like http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+889+913&pcatid=913 and http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/cichlid/texas.php that it's good to keep "hardy" or "sturdy" plants with a Texas cichlid to mimic the natural environment. I'd definitely like to do this, but I'm not sure which plants would be best to try. Any ideas?

Also, if you feel like a 6' 125 gallon tank is too small for a 12" Texas cichlid, and you want to ***** at me about it, I'm all ears. I'm not entirely convinced that the tank will be big enough. Thanks!
 
Most Herichthys are omnivorous and will eat any of the softer plants.
Anubius and java fern are tougher, and known to be not so tasty.
And because they can be attached to pieces of wood and rock, not so easily dislodged by digging cichlids.
I have found papyrus in pots to work well with the Texas close cousins, Herichthys carpintus.

Papyrus needs to have leaves out of the water though, and will grow out 2 to 4 ft above the tank. Works well if you tank is near a window. It also helps keep nitrates low.


The only cichlid I have that eats it, is Herichthys (xCichlasoma) bocourti, and they will reduce a 4ft plant to the root ball, and then start on the tender roots.
Above is a 120 gal with papyrus in pots.
 
Honestly I wouldn’t bother with live plants. It will more than likely rip them to shreds or rip them out of the substrate. Just go fake plants & go it a day IMO.

125gal is more than enough for a full grown texas & some tankmates like cons, severums, firemouths, SD’s etc.
 
All the carpintis that I ever kept were diggers. Any type of rooted plant won't last long. Anubias and java fern that attached to wood/rocks would be the best attempts if you want plants, but fake will be safer.

I would think that a 125 is plenty big enough for a carpintis.
 
oh yeah 12" texas. Go get that bad boy.
 
I have a Texas that lives with live plants. She digs a lot. I replant a lot.

Generally though the situation is stable. The plants grow and are healthy. She hates swords though. She won't tolerate swords of any kind in her tank. I keep trying and she keeps destroying them.
 
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