Which Fish Should I Avoid If Creating A Planted Tank?

[Carp4U]

I will hopefully be getting a new fish tank for my birthday and i would like it to be planted with lots of colourful plants. Can anyone tell me which fish species or breeds should i avoid getting to stop or prevent my plants being destroyed and waste my money.

 

[Thomas 2507]

Plecs. They eat/dig/dowhateverto plants.

 

[Esfa]

headstanders. They'll strip anything in a few hours.

 

[rossyt99]

Oscars and other large Cichlids. + Tinfoil Barbs.

 

[Carp4U]

will upside down catfish or zebra danios be a problem?

 

[Esfa]

will upside down catfish or zebra danios be a problem?

nope, they're both great in a planted tank.

if you get a lilly and let it grow to the surface, the catfish will stay under them. Very cute

 

[Carp4U]

how is this stocking in a planted tank?

6 rasboras
8 neon tetras
4 cories
2 dwarf gouramis
(Something else not sure yet?)

The tank size is 15 gallons

 

[Esfa]

how is this stocking in a planted tank?

6 rasboras
8 neon tetras
4 cories
2 dwarf gouramis
(Something else not sure yet?

add two more cories and it'll be great

maybe something like 4 otos to munch the algae?

 

[dpcamp]

i made the mistake of puttin a couple cichlids in my tank. Now i'm finding myself replanting 1-2 times a day. haha

 

[catfish101]

also stay away from silver dollars they love to eat plants

 

[Carp4U]

how is this stocking in a planted tank?

6 rasboras
8 neon tetras
4 cories
2 dwarf gouramis
(Something else not sure yet?

add two more cories and it'll be great

maybe something like 4 otos to munch the algae?

yeah i was thinkin bout adding more cories, not sure about the otos, i wanted something slightly bigger- maybe a clown loach?

 

[Ian H]

a clown loach is a "little" bigger than a otto, like 11" bigger

Loach's will dig up loads of plants too so they are a no go

Although i got 4 in mine and havvnt caused THAT much trouble

 

[n3ont3tra]

Try rainbowfish.

 

[Jim Curtis]

My black mollies turned my large plant leaves into screens.

 

[Rlon35]

LOL....avoid all of the following fish, which I have managed to keep with certain types of onions, anubias, etc. They'll tell you that melon swords won't be eaten by herbivorous fish (that's bull), but I think they must truly taste like melon to my following species:

1. Gold Nugget Pleco (not too bad on the plants, but eats them)

2. Silver Dollars (these are plants eating monsters, keep some firmly anchored bunched anacharis and it should keep them somewhat happy, but not distracted enough!!!)

3. Bala Shark (he'll pretty much nibble at anything, even my moss balls at times)

4. Clown Loaches (yep, I am maintaining a planted tank with some of the worst species posssible... I don't see the Clowns eating anything but what I give them, but I am sure they start munching my plants at night)

5. Ottos (worse for plants than people think IMO and depending how many you have...will graze off algae on the plant, but they will also team up and slowly consume other plants, LIKE MY onions for some reason)


Exceptions in MY tank?
6. Rams (they really just eat up some loose/pre-decaying plant bits, so they are actually good for the tank IMO)

7. Red Finned Shark (haven't figured him out yet...he's young)

8. Black Neons (love plants, but just for atmosphere it seems)

9 Apple Snails (they don't do much harm, it seems, even though they are always on the plants)