Plants and Malawis

Ok, Some people feel differently about plants in a Malawi Tank, however it does help to some. My ? is besides Java Fern (and Plastic Plants) what are the other plants that these guys wont eat? Does anyone Know?

 

Malawis is a very broad term. What genus?

 

I was thinking in General, but for argument sake lets say Peacocks or Mbunas

 

i know java moss, java fern, anubias and hornwot are all hardy plants and most fish don't eat them, i have also read that some people do keep the anubias, hornwort, swords and java fern with malawi's, but you know what they say , don't trust all the advice you get from the internet...

 

Cool, thnx, I have Java Fern at moment, They defiantely dont eat that, Maybe I should just get some more

 

Most open water Haps, you can do all types of Valis, Anubias
Mbuna is a no no, they will probably get ravaged

That being said, it depends on the type of fish. I've got a Milomo that has literally decimated all my plants.

To keep the plants sort of safe, use some bigish pebbles to protect the root structure.

And thats from experience, not the internet

 

i don't have much experience with malawi's, so neil probably knows what he is talking about...i just offered what i read and what other people claim to have success with...let us know what you have success with...i would suggest getting one of each and then see which one gets taken apart and which ones they leave alone...

 

Tank is 600 deep by the way

 

yeah, thats nice, I think diet also plays a role, I do stand corrected, but if you feed them enough spirulina/ veggie food then they wont necessary eat the plants

 

Peacocks should be fine with plants, but to be safe, try to keep to the already mentioned tougher plants. Mbuna chow down and generally mess up any and all plants.

Plastic plants are, above all, your best option. There is no chance that they'll be eaten, but there is a good chance that your fish might try to uproot them. Either weigh them down with rocks or anchor them in relatively deep substrate.

 

I tried the Anubias, Java fern and Hornwort. The first few days it went well and i really thought it could work, then one day i got home from work and it looked like my tank was hit by an underwater hailstorm, there were plants everywhere. They just uprooted all they could and ripped appart the rest. Even the Hornwort wich i left to float was all over the tank. Needless to say, they now have some plastic plants in there.

 

Have you been feeding them a regular balance of veggie food as well, or have you only been feeding cichlid flakes or bits

 

I feed them veggie food with spirulina in the morning and protien mix in the evenings, so yes they get a good balanced diet.

 

Mbuna are grazers, plants will get eaten. Haps/Peacocks do it to show the rest of the tank who's boss.

Like I said, it depends on the individual fish, but generally, no plants at all for Mbuna. No matter how much spirulina or veggies get fed

 

Ye you're right neilh. I've got 3 Haps and 13 Mbuna in the tank. Plants just don't work with them - keep to plastic if you want something green in the tank. This i can say from first hand experience.

 

hmm, ok, i have had some success with java fern, but in a smaller tank, I think in my Bigger one I will use plastic plants, Thanx guys