Platy Fish is one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby. They are great beginner fish that thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments. One question that many people have is “Do Platy Fish Eat Plants?” This blog post will answer this question as well as other questions about these wonderful creatures! I hope you enjoy reading this article on Do Platy Fish eat plants?
Do Platy fish eat plants? If you have a planted aquarium, they do! Platy fish are omnivorous and will eat both plant matter and animal matter.
In the wild, Platy fish consume algae in addition to small insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates that live in the water column below them.
Most people keep their Platy fish as pets in an aquarium with artificial plants instead of natural ones for aesthetic purposes.
However, there is nothing wrong with keeping your Platy fish with natural aquatic plants because some species are excellent forage for these tiny tropical such as java moss or Guppy grass.
We will talk about this more in detail below. Read this article till the end to know your platy fish better.
Let’s get started!
Do Platy Fish Eat Plants?
Yes, platy fish eat plants. There are two main types of plant-based foods that platys can eat: veggie food and live plants.
Veggie Food
Platys love to eat cucumber, zucchini and other yummy vegetables like these! These vegetable foods float on the surface or hang from a side of the tank which makes them perfect for the platy who likes to browse.
Live Plants
Platys also enjoy eating live plants! Live plants are an excellent way of keeping your water clean and they produce oxygen, just like in nature.
Diet Of Platy Fish In The Wild
In the wild, platys are known to eat algae and plant matter. Snails, crustaceans, insects and larva make up a small part of their diet- but plants seem to be most important.
Benefits Of Keeping Platy Fish In Planted Aquariums
There are various benefits to keeping platys in a planted aquarium. For one, they will help maintain the cleanliness of your tank by eating algae and other debris that gathers at the bottom. However, many live plants can do this as well!
Food
Platys need two types of foods: live or veggie food. Live plant food is a great way to keep your tank clean and will provide the platy with plenty of oxygen, just like in nature!
Keeps Water Clean
Planting live plants can help remove particles that settle at the bottom of your aquarium. This keeps water cleaner for not only you but also any other fish living there- including the lovely little platy.
Oxygen Production
Live plants produce oxygen, just like in nature- which is needed for the platys to survive! They are also a great hiding place and replicate their natural habitat.
Hiding Place
Plants can make excellent hiding places for your little guys if they feel threatened or seem uncomfortable with something going on.
Replicates Natural Habitat
Plants help replicate the natural habitat of your platy fish. This makes it feel like they are back in their own home! They’ll most likely be much happier and healthier than before.
Best Plants For Platy Fish ( Your Platy Fish Can Eat)
There seem to be many plants that platys can eat. Guppy grass, java moss, duckweed, and hygrophila are all very common plants that your fish will love to munch on!
Guppy Grass
Guppies like eating the soft leaves of guppy grass- which is also known as elodea or anacharis. It’s one of the most common plants for saltwater fish and it’s not an invasive plant.
Java Moss
The leaves of java moss are also soft- but I would recommend that you don’t put them in your tank if you have any other plant or animal living there! It can cause a huge mess with its rapid growth which makes it very difficult to remove.
Duckweed
This is another plant that will grow very quickly and can cause a bit of chaos in your tank (but it’s still yummy to the platy!). Duckweeds are more commonly found at lakes or ponds where they feed off nutrients from animal feces- but if you’re careful, this food option shouldn’t be a problem.
Hygrophila
The leaves of this plant are a little harder than the last two and have almost an ice cream cone shape to them. It’s still another very common food for Platy fish, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for something different!
Cabomba
This is one of the most common plants for live aquariums and is also the most popular type of plant that platys eat. It’s a much more manageable option than many other types of plants because it doesn’t grow as quickly, so you won’t have to worry about any surprises!
Water Sprite
The leaves of this plant are soft- but it can be difficult to grow because it likes to float at the surface of the water. It’s a worthwhile plant for those with an extra bit of time!
Hornwort
Another great option is hornwort, which has leaves that are very similar in shape and size to Cabomba- but this one will grow a little more quickly so you need to keep an eye on it.
Anubias
This type of plant is often used in tanks because they are very hardy and grow more slowly than many other types. They also have a nice dark color to them, which can make the tank look more natural for your little guys!
Lotus And Water Lily
These plants will both grow quickly and require a lot of nutrients- which is not good for platys.
Green Foxtail
Green foxtail is a great plant for tanks that are low on nutrients because it grows quickly and doesn’t need a lot of attention. This is also another type of aquatic plant, so it can produce oxygen while the platy chows down!
Anacharis
The leaves are soft like guppy grass but this type can be invasive to other plants in your tank so be careful what you let it grow with. This plant’s leaves are pointed and dark green- which makes them easy to spot in an aquarium when they’re floating at the top. It grows quickly and can be a bit of trouble for new tanks, so it’s best to use this plant with caution.
Downsides Of Platy Fish Eating Plants
There are two downsides to platy fish-eating plants- they may not eat as many as you hope, and the plants will need more care than a tank without any live tanks in it.
It’s true that Platies love algae but there is no way for them to get this food inside the tank without a filter. It’s best to keep them away from plants because they will not get enough nutrients- but it also covers up all of their food!
What Happens To The Tank When Platys Eat Plants?
It’s possible for your platy fish to eat too many live plants and this can cause problems in your aquarium. Plants need to be protected so they don’t get eaten, but there are many ways for you to do this and keep the tank in a healthy condition.
Are Artificial Plants Good For Platy Fish?
When deciding on plants, I would recommend sticking to live aquariums only- but artificial plants can still be a great way to decorate your tank!
But why not have live plants in the tank as well? Live plants are very important for platy fish because they provide the natural habitat that they want. They’ll be much happier and healthier with live plants in their tank, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
FAQ
Do Platy Fish Eat Algae?
Yes, they eat algae- but it’s best to only put in a little bit because they won’t be able to get enough of what they need from eating that.
Do Platy Fish Eat Snails?
Yes, they eat snails but only the ones that are small enough to fit in the mouth of Platy fish.
Conclusion
Platy fish love plants! Live aquariums provide them with their natural habitat while artificial plants are just for show.
I hope this blog post has helped you find out more about what plants are good for Platy fish- so that you can keep your little ones happy. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the comments!
Thank you for reading!