Is there any way I can have live plants and plecos?

[Cowardlyslimeball]

I really want to get real plants in my aquarium! I've never tried, because I heard that my Plecos would just rip them up. If I fed the plecos well, would they not eat the plants? I'm tired of fake plants, the look trashy.

 

[AmigoSpageeto]

What type of pleco do you have? Most plecos do not eat plants.

 

[PNWBettas]

I have a planted tank with a BN and my plants are completely fine. He even nibbles on the algae on the bigger Anubias leaves.

 

[Sheena-Phx]

I have several Common Plecos in my larger tanks and they are all heavily planted. Mind you, the Plecos let me know overnight whether or not they approve of the plant placement. : )

If you have Bristlenose, you shouldn't have an issue. If you have Common, or other larger varieties, you can still have plants, you just need to make sure your Plecos have a path. For me, I know that my largest girl, Rocky likes a bare path in the back of the tank. So I lined the back wall with Vallisneria, and have a lot of plants in the middle row of the tank, and shorter, foreground plants in the front. That way she still has her space and doesn't rearrange anything. Plecos don't eat the plants, but they have very strong bodies and tails. Sometimes they accidentally uproot new plants that aren't established because of their strength. You just need to be aware of this and plant accordingly.

 

[Cowardlyslimeball]

What type of pleco do you have? Most plecos do not eat plants.

I've got two bristlenose plecos.

I have a planted tank with a BN and my plants are completely fine. He even nibbles on the algae on the bigger Anubias leaves.

I've got BN plecos, should I try some plants? what kinds are good?

 

[Feohw]

You shouldn't have issues with your BN. So I would go for plants if you want them. I have my bristlenose in a tank with an amazon sword, java fern, water sprite, anubias, Lagenandra meeboldii, spiky moss, several types of crypt and cabomba.

 

[Sheena-Phx]

Then with BN plecos you should have a much easier time with getting some plants going in the tank. Most any kinds are good, I would personally avoid anything they could get caught in like free floating moss or guppy grass. But stems, swords, Vals, and lots of other plants should work just fine.

 

[Nataku]

Bristlenose plecos are not destructive to plants. I have bristlenose plecos in tanks that have valisneria, amazon swords, anacharis, hornwort, four leaf stargrass, cardinal plants, anubias, java fern and bacopa. They don't bug any of it. I've only seen the pleco cause a small amount of damage by try to sit on a thin young shoot of stargrass and breaking the stem - big deal, I had something like 50+ stems of it growing strong in the tank.

They're of course totally fine with floating plants too but I don't think that's what you're asking about?

 

[Cowardlyslimeball]

This is great! I was really frustrated about not having plants! Now my tank won't look like trash! (I despise plastic plants, in water and out of it, I'm a gardener, lol) I will post a picture when I get it planted! Thanks.

 

[Sheena-Phx]

Glad you won't have to deal with plastic anymore! Congratulations. We would love to see what you come up with. Keep us posted! : )

 

[Flyfisha]

Possible option for a gardener Cowardlyslimeball,
Put plants in terracotta pots or whatever pots you have. Establish what grows best for you in your water and then possibly plant in a permanent position . Or have a tank full of pots wood and ornaments all covered in plants. Ten minutes will have all the containers out and the substrate clean.

 

[JB92668]

u can have plants with them java moss riccia and x mass moss or flame moss java fern all them plants work with bristle nose