cichlids in a heavly planted tank

In my opinion, no they won’t. I have 6 in a 30G med-heavy planted tank with no major issues (along with 2 P zebra and 3 SAE). Swords and Java Fern do well as those tend to be hardier. If they like to dig (which mine really don’t) then they should arrange it for probably the first 3 - 4 weeks until they get it how they like it. If you can, get potted swords (or other plants) because this will help keep them anchored to the gravel.

Also a side note with “Yellow Labs” - I don’t worry about snails from the plants I get because mine LOVE the snails – they have a ball eating them.

Good luck

Aries

My yellow labs are pretty active diggers... I don't know that they'd do well with plants.

Jim

Just the labs alone probebly wouldnt be too bad in that tank. They might dig a bit and uproot some plants, and also pick at them since they are party vegetarian. I keep plants in my malawi tanks (mostly vallis which is found in Lake Malawi) and they dont seem to bother it too much... but thats because it doesnt taste very good.


What other fish do you have in the tank? If its a planted community tank then no the labs will not mix. African cichlids shouldnt be kept with fish from other areas..... also you would need to raise the ph up to 8.0 for the labs which could have adverse affects on the plants.


-Diana

I agree that cichlids like higher PH (~8.0+), but can adapt to other environements - mine have. PH = 7.4-7.6 after CO2 injection and they are STILL breeding (i do not have the room for all these fry - so many).

I did not think that this tank might be a community tank (and not cichlid only) - cichlids do not do well in community tanks because of their different requirements in food and water parameters. For example, normal community fish can handle (if not prefer) a PH around 7 (or lower) or so while cichlids that might be a little too low. Just my opinion.