The best plants for Malawi cichlids

Many Malawi aquariums are unplanted, and that is natural too: on the rocky shores of the lake, mostly algae grow. Still, plants bring calm to an aquarium and absorb nitrate. The challenge: mbuna eat soft plants, and almost all Malawi cichlids dig.

Plants that last

Anubias

Hard, leathery leaves that most fish leave alone. Tie Anubias to a stone instead of planting it in the substrate: that way it can’t be dug up. Grows slowly and tolerates hard water.

Java fern (Microsorum pteropus)

Another plant you attach to stone or wood. The leaves taste bitter and are usually not eaten. Tolerates low light and hard water.

Vallisneria

Vallisneria also occurs in Lake Malawi itself. The long leaves make a beautiful background and the plant grows well in hard, alkaline water. Mbuna sometimes nibble on it, but it usually grows back fast enough.

Crinum

Crinum species, such as C. calamistratum, have tough leaves and a large bulb. Most cichlids leave them alone, and they suit hard water.

Cryptocoryne

Some Cryptocoryne species, such as C. balansae and C. wendtii, also grow in hard water. Plant them between stones, where the fish can’t easily reach the roots.

Better avoided

Soft, fast-growing plants such as Cabomba, most stem plants and carpeting plants are quickly eaten or dug up by mbuna. Plants that need soft, acidic water don’t grow well in Malawi water either.

Tricks for a planted Malawi aquarium

• Protect the roots with stones around the base of the plant, or plant in a pot hidden between the rocks.
• Attach plants to stone and wood rather than planting them in the substrate.
• Choose the right aquarium: planting is easier in a peacock or hap aquarium than in a mbuna aquarium.
• Feed mbuna enough plant-based food, so they nibble less on plants.
• Plant before adding the fish, so the plants have time to root.

If you don’t want plants, a good filter, enough water changes and a layer of algae on the stones also make for a healthy, natural-looking aquarium.