Is Tricolor Lily a Good Plant for Finger Fish?

Reviewed by Guidarium Editorial DeskUpdated May 4, 2026

Not Recommended

Tricolor Lily is not recommended for Finger Fish. The issue is practical, not cosmetic: they are adapted to different water types.

Tricolor Lily

Nymphaea micrantha

View plant profile

PlacementMidground

LightModerate

DifficultyIntermediate

Size40 × 25 cm

Finger Fish

Monodactylus argenteus

View fish profile

TemperamentSemi-Aggressive

FamilyOddballs

Temp24–28°C

Water TypeBrackish Required

Quick Decision

A plant can be technically compatible with a fish and still fail in the actual tank if the fish digs, chews, needs denser cover, or uses a different part of the layout.

Overall fit

30/100

The fish is likely to outgrow, uproot, or out-pressure the plant.

Water match

Limited overlap

One or more core water ranges does not overlap cleanly.

Plant pressure

High

Finger Fish may chew, uproot, or stress this plant.

Layout value

Moderate cover

Tricolor Lily helps with provides surface cover, breaks lines of sight, useful spawning site, and good refuge for shrimp.

Plant and Fish Fit Notes

Use these signals to decide whether the plant is doing useful work for the fish, or whether it is only surviving beside it.

FactorTricolor LilyFinger Fish

Temperature

Tricolor Lily22-28°C

Finger Fish24-28°C

Overlap: 24-28°C.

Tricolor Lily6-7.5

Finger Fish7.5-8.5

Overlap: pH 7.5-7.5.

Hardness

Tricolor Lily2-12 dGH

Finger Fish12-30 dGH

Overlap: 12-12 dGH.

Water and flow

Tricolor LilyFreshwater Only, Low (Still Water)

Finger FishBrackish Required, Moderate (Standard)

Flow expectations are close enough for one layout.

Space used

Tricolor LilyMidground and Background

Finger FishMiddle (Open Water)

Pressure signals

Tricolor LilyModerate uproot resistance, Delicate leaves

Finger FishSemi-Aggressive, Hyperactive / Fast Swimmer, Fin Nipper, and Plant Destroyer

Plant pressure: High.

Planting value

Tricolor LilyProvides surface cover, Breaks lines of sight, Useful spawning site, and Good refuge for shrimp, Nutrient-rich substrate preferred

Finger FishSmooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels)

Shared Tank Conditions

Tricolor Lily and Finger Fish do not share a clean environmental window, so the pairing is already under pressure before behaviour is even considered.

Their flow expectations are close enough to combine: Tricolor Lily prefers gentle, low-flow water, while Finger Fish prefers moderate flow.

Water type is a serious mismatch: Tricolor Lily is listed for freshwater, while Finger Fish is listed for brackish water.

Fish Pressure and Plant Resilience

Finger Fish puts heavy pressure on plants, so this species is likely to be chewed, uprooted, or stressed in day-to-day use.

Tricolor Lily has moderate cover density, moderate uproot resistance, and delicate leaves. It can also help with surface cover, breaking up sight lines, spawning sites, and shrimp refuge.

Its structure adds useful refuge value beyond the normal visual role of the plant.

The limiting issue is they are adapted to different water types.

Layout Fit

Tricolor Lily is a bulb / tuber plant usually used midground and background.

Finger Fish is an oddball fish, so the pairing works best when the planting style supports how that fish uses space and cover.

Tricolor Lily reaches about 40 cm tall by 25 cm wide and is usually bulb / tuber on or partly in substrate with nutrient-rich substrate preferred. That makes placement and anchoring more important than simply adding a larger bunch of stems or leaves.

In this pairing, the useful plant values are surface cover, line-of-sight breaks, spawning sites, and shrimp refuge. Place it where Finger Fish can actually use that structure instead of hiding the plant where it cannot do much.

Practical Recommendation

For most keepers, a tougher or better-matched plant is the smarter choice. If you still try it, test with a small amount first and be ready to move the plant before it is badly damaged.

The decision should center on this signal: They are adapted to different water types.

Best Use Case

Tricolor Lily is usually the wrong plant for Finger Fish if your goal is a stable display tank. The issue is rarely one dramatic failure on day one; it is the steady mismatch between what the fish does in the scape and what the plant needs to stay attractive long term.