Loaches Online Forum

I had a bamboo plant in the tank with my clowns for about 2 years without any problems. this bamboo plant was just two stems.

Recently I bought a big bamboo plant that is in a pot. This plant probably has about 20 stems and makes a circular type pattern held together by metal. rings and a few twisty ties. The plant is not in soil but in rocks. I often see bamboo plants at lfs just like this one. Its the same type I had in my tank for two years.

Does anyone think this is safe to place in the tank?

I am a bit concerned because I do not know if this plant was fertilized and I am not sure if the metal cage holding it together is stainless steel. I can replace all twisty ties with plastic connections and most likely hold this thing together without the metal cage.

Any advice would help.

I don't have to place this in the tank, it just appears to be something the loaches would love to death.

yeah, i would remove the metal cage also. When you put the bamboo in your aquarium, make sure the actual leaves are above water, otherwise the plants will die.

If you can make sure it's very clean, I don't see why not. I imagine that these plants are fertilized at their source, but that's hard to say. Insecticide is another issue to consider. As for the ties, I would definitely replace them with plastic just to be safe.

clownloachfan wrote:yeah, i would remove the metal cage also. When you put the bamboo in your aquarium, make sure the actual leaves are above water, otherwise the plants will die.

i have had a bamboo plant with all leaves submerged for 2 years and its still growing strong. the leaves won't die underwater!