What live plants do cichlids like?

Should I decorate my African cichlid tank with artificial plants?

You may also find the durability of artificial decorations preferable in African cichlid tanks, as these fish have a tendency to move a lot of gravel around, and can easily unearth plants live or artificial. Vacuuming your tank is a breeze with fake plants.

What is the difference between African cichlids and aquatic plants?

Aquatic plants live in environments that have different water parameters than the ones the African cichlids live in; mainly pH, KH and GH. Most aquatic plants will thrive in a neutral pH and low KH and GH.

Can you grow Anubias in a cichlid tank?

Any Species of Anubias. Anubias is probably the number 1 plant for a Cichlid tank and will grow very well on drift wood. Scientific name: (Ech. Ozelot) Tank Placement: Floating or strapped down to objects. This actually depends on the type of cichlid you have in the tank and how healthy they are.

What are the best Ferns for African cichlids?

Microsorum, or Java ferns, are the easiest plan out there! These originate from East-Asia, precicely Malaysia, Thaïland and some places in China. This plant is perfect for the African cichlid tank. It’s so resistant to the water parameters that some aquarists even keep them in brackish tanks.

Do African cichlids need live plants?

Because most African cichlids are territorial, the aquarium should have a large bottom area relative to its volume. Live plants are not part of an African cichlid display and the fish prefer more subdued light, making standard aquarium lighting more than adequate.

What is the best tank size for African cichlids?

Tank Size. A larger aquarium that is 30 gallons (120 l) or larger is a good choice for a cichlid tank. African cichlids are aggressive fish, and though they get along with other cichlids, small spaces can encourage their fighting nature. A spacious tank will provide room for your finned friends to get along nicely together.

Are African cichlids Hardy pets?

If you are looking to add some color to your tropical freshwater tank, African cichlids may be the perfect solution for your home. They are greatly available fish and feature individualistic temperaments. On top of that, they are quite the hardy pets once you manage to get their basic environmental requirements up and running.

Can Vallisneria be used in a cichlid tank?

The fast-growing plants of the genus Vallisneria can be used in a cichlid tank as well. Vallisneria are typical background plants, which are planted into the substrate. Their leaves are robust, but not as hard as e.g. those of Anubias.

Are Anubias fish-friendly?

Its spear-shaped leaves are very hard and thus very resistant against hungry fish. Furthermore, Anubias are quite undemanding in terms of nutrition and other aquatic parameters. As so-called epiphytes, Anubias can be cultivated on decorations such as driftwood or stones and they’ll attach to them with their holdfast roots.

How do you plant an Anubias in an aquarium?

As so-called epiphytes, Anubias can be cultivated on decorations such as driftwood or stones and they’ll attach to them with their holdfast roots. You can find a how-to here. When fixed to the aquarium decoration, the plants stay well in place.

What will kill African cichlids in a tank?

In the African cichlid tank, the pH is of 8.2 and KH and GH need to be kept over 180ppm and 300ppm respectively. Adding pH, KH and GH sensitive plants to such an environment will kill them. Another reason that most plants don’t survive the African cichlid tank is because of their behaviour. African Cichlids are builders.

Are Anubias aquatic plants?

Anubias plants are a genus of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants native to tropical parts of Africa. There are over 20 varieties of Anubias, which means there is an Anubias variety for almost any freshwater tank.

How do you plant an Anubias?

Planting anubias is easy as long as you are careful with it. If you want to plant it in a substrate, the variety you choose is not that important, but it should be nutrient-rich. Sand is a great choice, although any fine-grained gravel will do. Ensure that the rhizome is not planted under the substrate, as the plant will subsequently die.

Can you add Anubias to an aquarium?

You can add anubias to your aquarium if you have solitary species like bettas. Even fish that like to eat greenery like herbivore cichlids and goldfish dislike the taste of anubias and will mainly leave it alone. How to Plant Anubias?

Can Anubias live with goldfish?

The Anubias plant is very popular in freshwater aquariums because of the little care it needs. It can blossom in both high and low-light settings, and it does not require fertilization. You can keep it with many freshwater fish species, including cichlids and goldfish, who are known to graze on greenery.

Do African cichlids get along with plants?

If you’ve ever kept African cichlids, you know that these can be particular about their tank mates. Forget about mixing in “regular” tropical fish in with them. Well, they’re just as particular with plants.

How are plants different from fish?

Where the fish in your tank take oxygen from the water and expel carbon dioxide, real plants do the opposite, taking up the carbon dioxide and exchanging it for oxygen.

Can Java ferns live with cichlids?

I’ve literally had Java Fern in a 10 gallon tank with no light on it for a little over a month and it thrived. But a great reason it does well with Cichlids is because it’s root heavy and does really well when attached to driftwood.

Do cichlids become territorial when mating?

In most cases, cichlids become territorial when mating but they can also exhibit similar behavior due to the scarcity of food. As you know, animals compete for food as one of the major factors influencing their survival.

How can you tell if an African cichlid is healthy?

The vibrancy of the colors of your fish will also be a good indicator of their health. Fishes whose colors are dull or seem faded are highly likely to be sick, as healthy African cichlid has bright scales. Despite their highly exotic appearance, African cichlids are actually one of the hardiest families of freshwater fish.

How big of an aquarium do African cichlids need?

A good rule of thumb for African Cichlids is to get at least a 4-foot-wide aquarium. African cichlids do better when crowded with other African cichlids, but they should be monitored for aggressive behavior and removed if needed.

What do African cichlids like to eat?

African cichlids like to pull stones and eat live aquarium plants, so the maintenance of the aquarium with these cichlids should be carried out carefully and regularly, otherwise, they quickly bring their “creative Chaos” into the aquarium.

How many cichlids in a 50 gallon tank?

A 50 gallons aquarium might be suitable for 6 to 8 small sized cichlids. Note that the size of the tankless will be aggressive. Also, a little provocation can lead this fish to jump out of the tank, so make sure your tank has a lid.

What should the pH be in a cichlid tank?

Finally, fill the tank with water, and run the heater and filter for several weeks, until the pH is between 7.8 and 8.5 to ensure that the water is safe for your fish. For tips on how to choose a species of cichlid for your tank, read on!