Will South American Cichlids Just Destroy Plants?

[Olivers]

Looking at putting together a selection of these. Not sure what yet.

Already have 2 parrot fish and a Texas (came with tank)

Thinking red Tapajos, Jack demisters, Kribensis, red terrors. Rams.

I really want a planted tank. I know the rams will appreciate it but I've no idea which others will tear it apart. Any suggestions on which fish suit plants and maybe even which plants?

The tank is 200l so I can't get all the above.

 

[DrRob]

You'll struggle with plants with the Texas to start with. They're prone to digging heavily and will have a go at anything soft.
 
As a note, they're also not South American, nor are the Kribensis, red terrors or what I assume you're asking about which is Jack Dempseys. Parrots are probably Central American in their original source, although I'm not sure that anybody really knows what they are and they may be SA hybrids of some form.
 
JD's eat plants, and although found with them in the wild, they'll munch through your aquarium plants and are generally kept in plant free aquariums, red Tapajos are earth eaters and will dig most things up, although you're probably fine if the plants are well protected or bog wood attached. Kribs and Rams are fine with plants, although both do dig.
 
Personally, my advice would be, with red terrors, if you have to ask, then don't look at them, it really isn't worth it, beautiful fish, but well named.

 

[Wills]

Hi just to add to what Rob said.
 
The only fish really suitable for a 200 liter are the Rams and the Kribs. The parrots are okay in there but their adult size can depend on the strain of it. The JD is kind of on the border line its a very thin miniumum in a 200
 
The Texas will be a very big tank and ideally wants a 5 or 6 foot tank as do the Red Terrors
 
The Red Head Tapajos need a big tank as well but for a different reason. They are gregarious cichlids which means they like to be in groups so minimums of 4 really and mixing these with things like the Tex and Red Terrors is not a good idea.
 
For me in your fish lists you have three tanks of stocking really....
 
In your 200 I would look at the smaller fish you have listed doing Rams and Kribs - second tank would be a group of the Geophagus and the third would be your red terror, JD and texas with the parrot fish.
 
You may get away with swapping the JD and Texas and keeping the Parrot Cichlids though.
 
I think you need to make a decision if you want a bigger tank and the bigger cichlids or if you want your current tank, planted with the smaller dwarf cichlids.
 
Wills

 

[Aviici]

My friend has Kribs and Rams in his planted tank and they are thriving, I think the setup consists more of lots of driftwood for the south american cichlids and some caves for them to shelter in with secure rocks. The bigger ones like the Jack and the Parrots might destroy plants, it's down to how they want the tank to look
My oscar only lets plants grow to about 4 inches tall and then he rips them down, because he loves his swimmig space, plants that survive are amazon swords, anubius, crypts and the java moss all over the bog wood. Vallis is a no-no.