I put a bunch of Java Fern in my tank a few days ago and my Mbuna are devouring it!!! I was anticipating problems with them digging it up, but not eating it. I feed them 2-3 times a day so i know their not starved...any ideas on what i can do(different plants maybe??) or just ditch the live plant idea?
Do you Mbuna eat your plants??
- Thread starter jeffro426
- Start date
I had problems with my mbuna eating my plants. They were eating my Vals. I took those out and added Java fern attached to some rocks.They have tried eating the java fern but nothing too bad.
If you are having problems with eating java ferns, then you might not be able to keep anyhting with yours. Anubias would be the only thing left to try. what are you feeding them? Are they getting enough plant matter in their deit? I used ot have an angelfish taht would eat all my plants but i started feeding veggie flakes and she stopped.But your fish might just like eating plants and may jsut eat everythign you try.
Note: you said you were concerned about them digging the java fern up. java ferns whouldnt' be planted in teh gravel and should be attached to rocks.
If you are having problems with eating java ferns, then you might not be able to keep anyhting with yours. Anubias would be the only thing left to try. what are you feeding them? Are they getting enough plant matter in their deit? I used ot have an angelfish taht would eat all my plants but i started feeding veggie flakes and she stopped.But your fish might just like eating plants and may jsut eat everythign you try.
Note: you said you were concerned about them digging the java fern up. java ferns whouldnt' be planted in teh gravel and should be attached to rocks.
Thats why i wasnt all that worried!
They get a steady diet of various brands of veggie flakes. I might just take them out though...watching a juv. carry around a strip of java fern although comical, is kinda frustrating.
wait a minute, so plants can survive in a African tank. I was lied to, is java fern expensive?
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It can really be hit and iss with adding plants to a mbuna tank. Either your fish will eat them, try to eat them but the plant grows faster then they damage it or they will pretty much leave it alone. usually its one of the first 2 
If you want to try adding plants java fern or anubias are good choices, both are hardy, sturdy leaved plants that dont' taste very well to fish. The only problem is they are slow growers.
java ferns are fairly inexpensive so it can't hurt trying. You dont' plant them in the gravel, make sure you tie them to rocks or something. They dont' like their roots covered.
If you want to try adding plants java fern or anubias are good choices, both are hardy, sturdy leaved plants that dont' taste very well to fish. The only problem is they are slow growers.
java ferns are fairly inexpensive so it can't hurt trying. You dont' plant them in the gravel, make sure you tie them to rocks or something. They dont' like their roots covered.
I'm going to call around to see if any of my pet storesa round here have it, curently the one i worked at doesn't carry and adequete supply or a variety of diferent plants
I got some java fern and my mbuna leave it alone. I'm waiting to get some vallis, though. I'd rather have that. Java fern is UG-LY!
Really, java fern is one of my favorite plants. I think there is nothign prettier then a nice piece of drift wood covered in java ferns. PLus they are so easy to grow.