Plant destruction

[phishphan]

I have two oscars and I pleco in my 75 gallon tank. I have recently purchased two sword plants and one oriental sword plant in my tank for starters. My oscars pull them out of the gravel and also seem to be feeding on them. Is there any kind of prevention of this or any type of plants that they will not eat???

[1979camaro]

get rid of the oscars?

[phishphan]

no, why would i do that? the fish are worth more than the plants

[1979camaro]

i don't know what oscars will not eat...i do know they will tear up plants...you could try potted plants perhaps they wouldn't dislodge them...the only other option i see is to trash the plants...

[Coyote]

Phishphan, why don't you post your question on the cichlid forum? You should be able to get help from there.

[Karkadannspiral]

Plastic plants? Maybe with something heavy on top of the bottom bit that holds it in the sand/gravel to keep it from being dragged arround the tank by the enthusiastic fish anyways

[colesea]

Oscars rip up plants. It is what they do. In fact, besides being funny buggers, I think plant ripping up is what they do best. The only way I know of not to make them rip up the plants is to silicone plastic ones to the bottom of the tank. This will necessitate finding a temperary home for the oscars until the silicone dries.
~~Colesea