Do you Mbuna eat your plants??

[valerie]

here is what java fern looks like http://192.38.244.204/go.asp?plant=008

here are what vals look like http://www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=055A (there are different species that grow bigger or that have twists in the leaves.

All plants help remove nitrates,nitritesand ammonia form the tank. It jsut depends if ther is enough of them for you to notice a difference.

 

[Kanstar]

thanks again valerie, I'be been waiting for you to get back online so I could hear your answer actually.

yeah i think i would take java since im new to the plant game.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Wow that java looks really nice. Mine's all ratty and nasty. I can't wait to put lots of vallis in the back of my tank and cover all my equipment. Add some anubias in and around the rocks.... and viola! I can't wait to get pics.

 

[Kanstar]

hey what about "Vesicularia dubyana" or the common name Java Moss? what do you think of this?

 

[valerie]

I have never used java moss. Never really heard of it being used in african tanks. I would think the mbuna would eat it since it comes apart easily. its usually used in fry tanks or as a ground cover.

You could always add some to your african tnak and keep a little bit in another tank and if the africans eat it you can always add more as it grow fairly quickly under the right conditions.

 

[Kanstar]

ah, so ill stick with java fern and vallie then.

 

[jeffro426]

Originally posted by valerie
I have never used java moss. Never really heard of it being used in african tanks. I would think the mbuna would eat it since it comes apart easily. its usually used in fry tanks or as a ground cover.

You could always add some to your african tnak and keep a little bit in another tank and if the africans eat it you can always add more as it grow fairly quickly under the right conditions.

I do keep Java moss in my tank also...the problem isnt with that, they never touch it...its the Java fern that their trashing! They never touch my anarchis or java moss though.

 

[valerie]

Really, weird.I would have thought that the java moss would be a salad bar to africans. It is fine "leaved",picks apart easily and isn't supposed to taste bad like java fern supposedly does.

jeffro426- What sort of africans do you have? some eat plants more then others.

 

[Kanstar]

I'm so lost on what to get now it's sick.

 

[valerie]

If yo uwant to try plants for the first time in a mbuna tank stick with java ferns or maybe even anubias as they are 2 of the best plants. Both are hardy and have thick leaves which are harder for the mbuna to eat. Plus both grow well in lower light.

Stick with java ferns to begin with, then if they work try other plants.