After having many plants shredded or eaten by my Oscar, but he never touched the Banana Plant, I decided to see what, if any, other plants work and what does not.
Each plant has been tried on at least 2 occasions with it being planted dead center of the tank to provoke the reaction. After a few days the plant was moved to an outer area, and the next plant was planted in the center. Plants listed not nessesarily planted in this order.
Here's what I got going so far:
Banana Plant - The O does not bother this plant at all. No Leaf tugging, No digging, No nothing. I purchased 2 more and same results. Oscar Safe! (Only tried in the Above Substrate location, which produces a wide plant. An under substrate planting would result in a taller plant, till reaching the surface and producing a lilly-pad-type leaf that later blooms into a white flower... will be attempted as smaller plants grow)
Moss Ball - 2 in the tank, The Oscar doesn't even look at them. Oscar Safe!
Micro Sword - Been in the tank a week. Its a potted plant, so I figured it would be much harder for an O to move, and so far I've been right. Its not even dug up around it. Oscar Safe!
Undulata - In the tank a week, Potted. I figured this one would have been torn up as the leafs are a bit brittle looking. Nope. The O has not touched it. Leafs are still intact. Gravel not even disturbed around it. Oscar Safe!
Anacharis - Torn to shreds. Didn't make it 1 day. I had this in small bunches in the back of the tank, and it did not matter. I have small remnants or the left over remains planted closely behind the driftwood, and so far its been ok. But I gotta count this one as Not Oscar Safe! But might be with caution given to planting location.
Java Moss - as per many suggestions on this site about how most plant destroyers use this stuff with success, I decided to give it a try. Being a bit pessimistic, do to the shape of the plant, I planted it by the driftwood, as I've had more success in that area. No dice. Over night my Oscar tore it out of the substrate and moved it to the front of the tank to proudly display that he had torn it in half. In fact, I think he may actually like the taste of the stuff, as many bites are taken out of the scredded leafs and there are no floating bits in the tank. Not Oscar Safe! I'm going to try again though, as I really like the look of this plant.
Red Wendtii - The Oscar did not eat the plant, but is apprearantly very annoyed by it. Overnight he tore it in 3 pieces, and there were several leafs floating. Too bad, as this was a very pretty plant. Not Oscar Safe!
Ruby Sword - Attacked as I was planting it, but I batted him off. After a night in the tank, sadly, there are no salvagable remains left to this plant. Not Oscar Safe!
I'll keep you all posted on the plants if anything changes, as all of the Safe plants are still in the tank and undisturbed. All of these plants will also be transplanted to my 150gal as soon as I finish getting it setup (which should be ready to recieve water in about 2-5 days from now)
Each plant has been tried on at least 2 occasions with it being planted dead center of the tank to provoke the reaction. After a few days the plant was moved to an outer area, and the next plant was planted in the center. Plants listed not nessesarily planted in this order.
Here's what I got going so far:
Banana Plant - The O does not bother this plant at all. No Leaf tugging, No digging, No nothing. I purchased 2 more and same results. Oscar Safe! (Only tried in the Above Substrate location, which produces a wide plant. An under substrate planting would result in a taller plant, till reaching the surface and producing a lilly-pad-type leaf that later blooms into a white flower... will be attempted as smaller plants grow)
Moss Ball - 2 in the tank, The Oscar doesn't even look at them. Oscar Safe!
Micro Sword - Been in the tank a week. Its a potted plant, so I figured it would be much harder for an O to move, and so far I've been right. Its not even dug up around it. Oscar Safe!
Undulata - In the tank a week, Potted. I figured this one would have been torn up as the leafs are a bit brittle looking. Nope. The O has not touched it. Leafs are still intact. Gravel not even disturbed around it. Oscar Safe!
Anacharis - Torn to shreds. Didn't make it 1 day. I had this in small bunches in the back of the tank, and it did not matter. I have small remnants or the left over remains planted closely behind the driftwood, and so far its been ok. But I gotta count this one as Not Oscar Safe! But might be with caution given to planting location.
Java Moss - as per many suggestions on this site about how most plant destroyers use this stuff with success, I decided to give it a try. Being a bit pessimistic, do to the shape of the plant, I planted it by the driftwood, as I've had more success in that area. No dice. Over night my Oscar tore it out of the substrate and moved it to the front of the tank to proudly display that he had torn it in half. In fact, I think he may actually like the taste of the stuff, as many bites are taken out of the scredded leafs and there are no floating bits in the tank. Not Oscar Safe! I'm going to try again though, as I really like the look of this plant.
Red Wendtii - The Oscar did not eat the plant, but is apprearantly very annoyed by it. Overnight he tore it in 3 pieces, and there were several leafs floating. Too bad, as this was a very pretty plant. Not Oscar Safe!
Ruby Sword - Attacked as I was planting it, but I batted him off. After a night in the tank, sadly, there are no salvagable remains left to this plant. Not Oscar Safe!
I'll keep you all posted on the plants if anything changes, as all of the Safe plants are still in the tank and undisturbed. All of these plants will also be transplanted to my 150gal as soon as I finish getting it setup (which should be ready to recieve water in about 2-5 days from now)
