No, cichlids will not eat Java moss. Sometimes, cichlids might bite Java moss to show dominance and mark their territories. However, they don’t perceive this aquatic moss as a food, so they’re very unlikely to eat it.
For that reason, Java moss is one of the best aquatic plants for a cichlid tank. Cichlids often dig into the substrate, uprooting and killing plants in the process, but because Java moss isn’t rooted, this behavior won’t affect it.
Moreover, Java moss is hardy and can withstand the challenging parameters in a cichlid tank.
