Your planted tank sure looks good… good enough to eat If you don’t want Plant-Eating Fishall the plants in your aquarium, we’ve put together a few tips to keep nibbles at a minimum.
You’ve put in the work and the time and your planted tank is thriving. The last thing you want to do is have all your hard work destroyed by hungry fish. Many freshwater aquarium fish are omnivorous, eating various foods, but some are herbivorous – they feed primarily on plant matter. If you stock your planted tank with plant-eating fish, it’s like letting a kid loose in a candy store!
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Plant-Eating Fish to Avoid:
To cultivate a thriving planted tank, you must be careful about what fish you use to stock your tank. Certain fish are more likely to feed on aquarium plants than others, and these are the species you want to avoid. Examples include the following:
- Rainbowfish: This type of fish is named for its bright colours that have the potential to change with the reflection of light. There are many different rainbowfish species, and most of them are herbivorous. This species does best in groups of six or more, and a school of rainbowfish can quickly damage a planted tank.
- Silver Dollars: These fish are named for their silver colouration and round shape. Silver dollars grow to 6 inches long and have fierce appetites for plant foods. These fish do well in community tanks, and they are hardy.
- Monos: These fish look similar to silver dollars, although they grow slightly larger. Like silver dollars, monos love to eat live plants, so you must feed them plenty of algae flakes and fresh vegetables.
- Buenos Aires Tetras: While many tetras will nibble on plants now and then, the Buenos Aires Tetra is known for being a voracious plant-eater. These fish will eat almost any kind of plant available except for Java ferns.
Plants for Herbivorous Fish:
You’ll have a challenge if you decide to keep plant-eating fish species in your planted tank. It’s not that it can’t be done successfully, but you must be mindful when choosing your tank inhabitants. Here’s a list of some of the best plants to use in planted tanks inhabited by herbivorous species of fish:
- Hygrophila: This is a genus of aquatic plants that are common and easy to find in pet stores and online. Hygrophila plants are one of the fastest-growing plants for planted tanks, and the leaves soften as the stems grow longer, making them very edible for fish.
- Water Sprite: This plant grows quickly, replenishing itself at the same rate (or faster) as your fish can eat it. This plant grows on the water’s surface, so the stronger the light, the faster it will grow.
- Duck Weed: This plant produces small round leaves that float on the water’s surface. Duckweed has the potential to grow quickly, especially in strong lighting, and it is a popular food option for herbivorous fish species.
- Cabomba: This type of aquatic plant grows quickly in strong lighting, which makes it a great choice for planted tanks. This plant produces leaves that form whorls on the stems, and it is very soft and edible for aquarium fish.
Final Words :
In addition to choosing fast-growing plant species for your planted tank, you should also ensure you feed your fish enough. If your fish are properly fed, they will be less likely to feed on aquarium plants. Feed your herbivorous fish spirulina flakes, blanched zucchini, and other fresh vegetables.
Cultivating a planted tank is no easy matter, especially if you stock your tank with plant-eating fish species. However, if you are careful and do your homework beforehand, you can keep plants and herbivorous fish in the same tank.
