Compatible Fish

Last update: June 29, 1999

After you go to all the trouble of setting up and aquascaping a nice planted tank, it's foolish to add fish that are not plant compatible. Many fish, especially cichlids, either eat plants or play with them. Either way, it's very frustrating. Here are a few of our favorite fish.

	Many people wonder if discus are OK in a plant tank or vice versa. Yes, Virginia, plants do just fine in warmer water and lower general hardness. Our discus tank is 84 F and about 2 dGH. Only a few plants known to like cold water don't do well. Most common plants found in fish stores do just fine although same may need acclimating.
	The photo above is of a mature turquiose discus. She spawned many times in the tank but once the fry were free-swimming, they became snacks for the other discus. The photo at right is the same turquiose at a younger age along with a "Royal" turquoise.
	"The gang's all here!" Left to right: a young turquiose, a captive bred "wild type", a Ken Reeves Striated Red, a turquoise, a royal turquoise and one more wild type.
	Australian and New Guinea Rainbowfish are excellent in plant tanks. Besides having almost salt-water-like colors, they are active and sociable. Shown here is a "Yellow", M. herbertaxelrodi and two "Turquoise", M. lacustris. A Chilantherina bleheri tail is on the far right and a female M. bosemani is the smaller fish to the left.
	Melanotaenia splendide is on the left, then C. bleheri, M. lacustris, a Glossilepsis incisus male on top, and part of a male M. bosemani on the bottom.
	Ah, yes, the ubiquitous Angel Fish, also known as Angle Fish in the newsgroups. We like the standard colors but there are plenty of other morphs to choose from. We had 8 to start with, but once a pair formed, the other six were forced to hide in the plants. Plan for this.