6 replies to this topic

[Veritas1980]

I have a tall 60 with some 3-4 inch sunfish. at least one red redbreast, a couple longears and at least 2 I have not identified yet, possibly dollars. I put some anacharis elodea in with them and they destroyed it.

 

Anyone got experience with keeping these fish with live plants? What plants will they NOT destroy? so far it seems the only ones I've found are amazon swords.

 

 

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[UncleWillie]

When you say destroy, do you mean they uproot them or do they physically swim into them and break the plant apart?  I ask because I've never had issues with sunfish and plants except when they start nest building.  Also, as some others here can attest to, sometimes elodea will "melt" or have a large die-back when put into new water conditions.  Try acclimating the plants as if they were fish. Also, based on the photo, your sword plants have lots of new growth, but older stems look to be really struggling.  I wonder if there is something else going on here like lack of nutrients or lighting - causing weak plants more vulnerable to breakage.

[Veritas1980]

When you say destroy, do you mean they uproot them or do they physically swim into them and break the plant apart?  I ask because I've never had issues with sunfish and plants except when they start nest building.  Also, as some others here can attest to, sometimes elodea will "melt" or have a large die-back when put into new water conditions.  Try acclimating the plants as if they were fish. Also, based on the photo, your sword plants have lots of new growth, but older stems look to be really struggling.  I wonder if there is something else going on here like lack of nutrients or lighting - causing weak plants more vulnerable to breakage.

 

I have a pretty good light and I dose fertilizer every couple days. I let the elodea sit outside the box but still in the bag for almost an hour so the temperature should have been the same. I also witnessed the fish picking at the plants quite often.

[JasonL]

I have a heavily planted tank with smaller sunfish species (orangespots, bantams, flier) and they don’t cause any problems.  Plants are a mix of Java fern, Val, Anubias and a couple others.  I have found that larger sunfish species do have a tendency to root around a bit.  Placing the plants in a small pot and then burying the pot may help with this tendency.  Good luck.

[swampfish]

I agree with Uncle Willie. The only problem I've had with even the more boisterous sunfish species such as green sunfish and bluegill is their large tails buffeting the plants, typically with little damage. Calmer species such as longear and dollar sunfish usually cause no problems. I've not kept redbreast sunfish. 

 

New plants commonly lose their old leaves and grow new ones that are suited to the new tank conditions. However, you need to get plants that fit your water's parameters and light conditions or they will melt as Uncle Willie suggested. 

 

My wife keeps and breeds goldfish, so many are large adults. Our three largest tanks, a 125 and two 75's all have goldfish in them; my fish are relegated to smaller tanks. The only plants we keep with them are Anubias as goldfish eat most aquatic plants and uproot all plants. The Anubias are too tough for them to eat and they don't have typical roots, so they get tumbled by the goldfish and keep growing. Anubias will probably put up with your fish. 

 

Phil Nixon

[Veritas1980]

Thanks for the info, all of you.

[centrarchid]

Damage and appearance of gravel not consistent with nesting activity. Are any of the fish in the tank possibly Redspotted Sunfish or Spotted Sunfish? That is the only sunfish I have seen they would consume any amounts to vegetation. They would even consume 6" lengths of Coontail.