of course, im refering to the BIG cichlids mostly CA and SA. not vegetarian...they spit the leaves out......check the filters, theres where all the bits end up.those they could push aside..they will push ...those they cant (anchored pots or tied to bogwood) they will chew the leaves to the stumbs.
dont know about african cichlids...they are never my favourite and i seldom touch hormone feed fishes...its hard to tell which AC is not feed with hormones....in bangkok anyway.
of course, most deep watered lakes or river do not have plants unless at the banks...even in malaysia ( the sunlight factor)
i usually dont care much about biotope for the simple reason ...apart from my wild caught fishes, most of my fishes are farm breed and im sure they would not know how their original biotope looks like, do they? even if they did...i think its crazy if the fishes would redecorated its surrounddings so it would look like home.so i suppose they destroys plants thru instinct...pure and simple.

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