Rainbow Cichlids and Live Plants

[Rivers2k]

I don't plan on doing an all out planted tank but I saw a plant that caught my eye called hygrophila kompakt. The guy at the store said it would be a good plant for me with my lighting and being a noob at live plants (paraphrasing my words not his).

I did some googling and many places said rainbows do very well with live plants. Others said there Rainbows Cichlids ate them. I know they are mostly omnivores leaning towards herbivores but from what i understand the herbivore part comes from the fact that they scrape algae off from rocks.

Anyone have experience with Rainbow Cichlids and Live Plants?

 

[rich_one]

It's been awhile, but I had rainbow cichlids with java fern, anubias and moss with no problems once upon a time. Good luck!

-Rich

 

[Rivers2k]

The guy at the LFS did specifically mention Java Fern and Anubias that they have something in them that is off putting to many fish so they wont get eaten. He also mentioned onion root. But he didn't say the same of hygrophila kompakt. Maybe I should go with Java Fern or Anubias

 

[duanes]

In nature during the rainy season, multispinosa venture out on the flood plain were they breed, and eat terrestrial plants, among a host of other things.
I have found most of my cichlids find Hygropila species very tasty ( although I have never tried the kompakt).
I keep multispinosa with hornwort, java fern, and Anubias, and although they pick at those, no serious damage. They do reduce any rotting terrestrial leaves to dust.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I tried hygrophila kompakt in my tank with a group of 2-4 inch Vieja. It was small when I planted it, and it didn't last a night. They thought it was lettuce.

 

[Rivers2k]

Looks like I will hold off in the plant. I may try java fern or anubias. Seems to be a general consensus that they are safe.

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[~T~]

My first lot would rip out vallis from the top. They loved wrecking the plants. Years later I kept some with anubias, java fern and a some other tougher plants with no problems at all.