Plants in a Mbuna Tank... Is it possible?

Ok, so most people say that having plants in a Mbuna tank cant be done because the Mbuna are herbavores and they uproot plants. I was looking online reading an article and noticed that it said java fern can be kept in a Mbuna tank because java fern tastes bitter so the fish dont like to eat it. Im thinking about trying it out. What do you think? What would you do? I appreciate everyones opinions :)

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Stevens on June 21, 2012 at 9:10pm

I have had java fern in with my mbuna's. I put the java fern in a small pot with gravel in it so they couldn't uproot it. They did however nibble at it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vinh Nguyen on June 22, 2012 at 12:13am

Get waxy tough bad tasting plants. I have Java Fern in my Mbuna tank. Also feed your Fish lots of Vegitables like Lettuce and Cucumber.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by seth roach on June 22, 2012 at 5:11pm

I know pretty much nothing about any cichlids but I have kept the supposedly impossible planted silver dollar tank...there very different than cichlids so this prolly doesnt help too much but i found that they wouldn't mess up the plants that grew back after they first demolished them and plants that were there before them....they did chew them somewhat but much less than a new plant. And like everyone else says keep them WELL feed and whatever you do, DO NOT forget to feed them...But try it you'll feel so much cooler when accomplish the so called "impossible".

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Balaam ramirez on June 26, 2012 at 2:30am

I have a 10 planted gallon that i keep all my baby comet fish and to grow new plants and they dont even bother the plants i have in there. As long as you keep your fish well fed they shouldnt mess with any of your plants. Good luck

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alexander Newman on June 27, 2012 at 6:17am

I have a planted Mbuna tank. 55 gallon with Anubias and Java Fern.
I'd recomend Java Fern, Anubias, Anachris and float some Hornwart to kill.

I will say, the thing about cichlids is that it's not so much that they eat the plants. It's just that...
CICHLIDS ARE DIGGERS!!! They've dug up a foottall sword I had, Never though it'd come up from all the strong roots, but fish are terribly mischeif. Especially cichlids.

Get you some plants dog. Imo they'll be fine. I love Anachris super hardy can't kill it, Anubias and Java Fern is totally ok for African Cichlids, and I also have some hornwort in my tank as well.