Cichlids and live plants?

[AVenom]

So we are up to 6 cichlids in out 55gal tank, and we have about 7 live plants...well *had* 7 live plants...lol
Everyday there is a new part, or parts of the plants floating. They are just ripping them out.
Is this a normal behavior for cichlids?
They have only ripped out the same kind of plant(some sort of fern I think) but leave the others alone.
I assume they rip them out cause they don't like them, if that's the case we won't get that kind of plant again.

 

[wayne]

A lot of cichlids of cichlids are tough on plants.

I'll give you a tip. There are a lot of cichlids - for the above question should I assume you have foot long oscars. Or madly aggressive dovii? Or 2 inch apistogramma, or herbivorous uaru, or discus/angel fish.
So when you say cichlids say what sort

 

[AVenom]

Yes I should have mentioned that...we have 2 yellow labidochromis, 2 pseduotropheous zebras/kenyi's, and 2 OB peacocks. So nothing too big or too aggressive.

 

[phOOey]

perfectly normal behaviour for africans, they just like to dig around and will often destroy plats when they do this. the only plants that you could really use are ones which attach themselves to rocks like java fern and java moss.

 

[steve535]

this is an old thread of mine that might help.i had a well planted cichlid tank for a long time.
http://myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5147

 

[Orion]

As you can see from Steve's tank (very nice tank BTW) it can be done. Mixing some cichlids and plants requires a lot more planing, research, and patients than just a regular planted tank to get it right.

But generaly tough and/or fast growing plants are a great place to start.

 

[AVenom]

Great info again guys!
Thanks

 

[wayne]

I got by keeping anubias and java ferns and moss tied to driftwood and rocks when keeping tropheus, and if they can survive those they'll survive most things.

 

[twistedimage92]

what kinda plants would you suggest as being fast growing or tough? i was thinking about getting some plants for my tank as well...

 

[Avalon]

Rooted plants like swords, crypts, anubias, & vals are the best. Stem plants & most non-South American cichlids don't get along. My midas & green terror (both 9") will shred anything but rooted plants.