Plants

[countrykat]

What type of live plants can I put in with mbunas that they can munch on?

 

[ikevi]

It tends to be if mbuna want to munch on the plant it will be quickly eaten... If they don't it will live. (So java fern, some swords, java moss, etc live, but most everything else will fairly quickly be eaten.)

 

[mike dunagan]

If you live plants get something they wont eat. Otherwise you will not have any plants. They eat them till nothing but stems are left!

 

[countrykat]

But wouldn't it be beneficial for them to have live vegetable matter for them to munch?

 

[ikevi]

Then feed them veggies, it is much much cheaper in the long run. (Even with "cheap" plant prices at auctions.)

 

[mike dunagan]

cheap plants, auctions....


I agree veggie matter is important. Get a good quality food that includes it in the pellets.

 

[ryanc2106]

i got plants in my hap/peacock tank and i got one kenyi in there (mbuna) and i got 3 live plants one lasted about 3 months now its no where to be seen the other 2 are doing fairly well but u see wholes threw out the leaf from when they nibble on them.. i hear anubias does well but havnt tried it yet..

 

[TheFanatic]

I keep all kinds of plants in my Hap Peacock tank - Amazon Swords, jungle val, anubias, crypts, java fern. They leave them alone.

Veggie matter is provided in the flake food (I mix in veggie flakes into the Tetra African Mix) and the occasional chunk of zuchinni. I also feed Hikari Gold pellets, veggie crisps, frozen brine and blood worms....

It's all about variety and well balanced meals...

 

[straitjacketstar]

My mbuna would eat everything, including vals, anubias, java fern and java moss.
While I did like the idea of them getting more fiber in their diet I didn't like that they were doing so by eating my plants.
I gave up keeping plants with my Malawians but I did have a lot of fun using their own tank and lots of light to culture plenty of algae. I let it cover everything and it gave the tank a very natural feel. The fish were constantly grazing on the algae and therefore always had a little something extra to nibble on when it wasn't feeding time.

 

[Muske]

Individual fishes additude will also play a role. I've had success w/some plants and fish combos, and the same fish/plant combos elsewhere not work. Some Mbuna will chew on anything, or completely leave them alone. Maybe try a few, and see what happens.