Cichlids

[clayspst]

so is it true that they de-root live plants? if so how bad are they about doing this.

 

[cyberbeer65]

so is it true that they de-root live plants? if so how bad are they about doing this.

Yes and very bad,especially larger cichlids.

 

[clayspst]

how about the smaller ones like the 1-3inch

 

[Star_Rider]

some of this habit depends on the cichlid..angels don't seem to do this..smaller rams I don't see do it either

 

[clayspst]

some of this habit deoends on the cichlid..angels don't seem to do this..smaller rams I don't see do it either

i am looking at the eletric blue and yellow.

 

[fish_freak]

Its not that they deliberately de-root plants they just dig in the gravel alot so none of the roots will stay buried. You can probably get around this with potted plants. Ive heard some people have good luck this way.

 

[Star_Rider]

from what I have heard the electric blues tend to uproot plants..
if you know the scientific name ..I'd suggest an internet search on the species.

 

[LunchBox]

when I had my green terror a few years ago (who dug a LOT) it was suggested that if I wanted to keep live plants that I needed to have a nice deep substrate (2-3" deep) and bury the roots down pretty low so they woudln't be easy to dig up. hard to say if it would have worked (I didn't get live plants), but I know my terror used to dig all the time and would even take my cloth plants and drag them aroudn the tank!

 

[Slappy*McFish]

You can get around the digging by placing stones around the base of rooted plants. Just be careful not to crush or damage the plant's stems/crown. Another alternative is to pot your plants...otherwise, stick to plastic plants.

 

[fishyaddict]

I place plastic plants in the bottom of my malawi tank and let hornwart float at the top. Gives the fish a nice place to hide besides the caves.