I love the look of a carpeting type of aquarium grass/plant for my cichlid tank. Anyone have experiences with this and would catfish be okay with grass?
Cichlids with plants
- Thread starter FastFisher5
- Start date
There's a waste of a thread haha. What about a grassed floor with plastic? Could catfish move around it?
I should probably say, my statement wouldn't apply to all catfish and cichlids...if it were small fish like cories, and rams; itd probably be OK, but I am assuming you have slightly bigger fish?
And nah, I never see threads as a waste; I find them invaluable when I'm researching for tank projects etc
And nah, I never see threads as a waste; I find them invaluable when I'm researching for tank projects etc
Yeah the cichlids are mildly larger haha. Firemouth JD and Carpintis. And the catfish are a Striped raphael and a Pictus
I used plants in most of my cichlid tanks, depending on the type of cichlid, sometimes for a long time, sometimes temporarily.
I found certain cichlids were fine, as long as the tank was large enough, current was strong, and as long as the cichlids weren't spawning.
This tank was set up with java fern, cryptocorne, and valliseria for about 2-3 years with Astatheros rostratum from the time they were 2" until about 7", and about to spawn.
I also found Nosferatu bartoni were fairly lenient on plants, even with fry.
Many of the Paratilapia from Madagascar did well with strongly rooted plants, (often in pots)and would even spawn and plant their grape like clusters of eggs on the branches.
These (below) are planktivorous Africans, Saratherodon linnellii
and S American Guianacara
Of course many cichlids are partially vegetarian and plants like vallisneria seem to be tasty. But anubius is often left alone by them.
I found certain cichlids were fine, as long as the tank was large enough, current was strong, and as long as the cichlids weren't spawning.
This tank was set up with java fern, cryptocorne, and valliseria for about 2-3 years with Astatheros rostratum from the time they were 2" until about 7", and about to spawn.
I also found Nosferatu bartoni were fairly lenient on plants, even with fry.
Many of the Paratilapia from Madagascar did well with strongly rooted plants, (often in pots)and would even spawn and plant their grape like clusters of eggs on the branches.
These (below) are planktivorous Africans, Saratherodon linnellii
and S American Guianacara
Of course many cichlids are partially vegetarian and plants like vallisneria seem to be tasty. But anubius is often left alone by them.
Thanks for the pics Duane. I'll check out some if those plants. What kind of fish in that last photo?
The last photo is a Lake Tanganyikan, Lepidiolamprologus elongatus.
I must say most of the more common new world species available, such as oscars are very tough on plants, because they are essentially omnivorous, and some of the vegetarian and semi-vegetarian species such as C. pearsei or bocourti or the Vieja/Paratherps group are a lost cause with plants. As are the Indian vegetarians Etroplus suratensus.
I must say most of the more common new world species available, such as oscars are very tough on plants, because they are essentially omnivorous, and some of the vegetarian and semi-vegetarian species such as C. pearsei or bocourti or the Vieja/Paratherps group are a lost cause with plants. As are the Indian vegetarians Etroplus suratensus.
I agree w/ Duane. I keep a rainbow cichlid w/ Anubais attached to driftwood and he doesn't touch it. But I tied hair grass and he destroyed it. Rainbows are highly vegetarian cichlids.
On the other hand I couldn't even keep plastic plants with an Oscar no way will anything survive lol. It really depends what you are keeping most big cichlids are not an option for a planted tank, but dwarfs,and other smaller cichlids seem to do just fine. I only have experience w/mostly CA cichlids. I think you are safe w/ anny crypto or thorichthys sp. for CA.
On the other hand I couldn't even keep plastic plants with an Oscar no way will anything survive lol. It really depends what you are keeping most big cichlids are not an option for a planted tank, but dwarfs,and other smaller cichlids seem to do just fine. I only have experience w/mostly CA cichlids. I think you are safe w/ anny crypto or thorichthys sp. for CA.
You can have anything you want, but you can't have everything you want.
At some point, a decision must be made--be decisive.
At some point, a decision must be made--be decisive.