plants that won't be consumed by mbuna???

[jameshilljr]

I thought that I had the right live plants that wouldn't be eaten by my AC's(java fern/moss, anubias nana,crypts) Is there a plant that won't become a salad for them(besides plastic)? For a while I was able to keep all of the above plants(even anacharis) without any loss, but almost simultaneous to my socolofi's,red zebra,and labs spawning-the plants started to dwindle away.
Is there any hope?? I know most AC's live in a rocky environment with little plant life, but a little color in the environment goes a long way...

 

[DeputyChiefJR]

I have floating watersprite

 

[Coler]

I find java fern, java moss and crinium plants work well.

 

[Pittbull]

Are you sure its not that the plants aren't receiving enough light and nutrients is why there dwindling or are they shredding the plants to pieces..

 

[austinpetemo]

i think its the windlov variety of java fern that is supposed to be able to withstand most cichlids bcuz they dont like the taste of it or something like that. also bcuz its java fern it diesnt require much lighting or CO2.

 

[efors]

My Anubias and Java ferns didn't make it with my mbunas. They broke every new leaf that was trying to grow up.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I agree with all of the above. I really don't have any experience with the plants but I have heard these examples a lot over the years.

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

I'm trying Vallisneria in my Mbuna tank. Recommended in all the books I've read.

 

[efors]

I'm trying Vallisneria in my Mbuna tank. Recommended in all the books I've read.

Vals are natural growing plants in some parts of Lake Malawi; but in a tank, they have a 50% chance to survive with the mbunas in a relatively small closed environment. Anyways, I wish you good luck with them, Kop!

 

[Istanbul_Kop]

Vals are natural growing plants in some parts of Lake Malawi; but in a tank, they have a 50% chance to survive with the mbunas in a relatively small closed environment. Anyways, I wish you good luck with them, Kop!

Thanks efors, the great thing about Vallisneria though is that it is DIRT cheap.

So if it fails, then I will cry a little....but not too much.:thm:

Then I might try some of the other fine suggestions in this thread!