Scuba Sam Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Hi there, I have a plant problem I am hoping you guys can solve. My community tank at work has two Amazon swords in it, and the leaves are being chewed. Looks like what slugs do to small lettuce plants in the garden. Fish: Neon tetras, one cardinal tetra, zebra danios, lemon tetras, Glowlight tetras, Red phantom tetras, corydoras venezualanus (orange cories - look like bronze cories but orange patch), and some wagtail platies. Other plants - Indan Fern, cabomba. There have never been snails in this tank. I do have some black beard algae, and it is on the Amazon swords too. I pick up some Siamese algae eaters today which should sort that. Advice please? Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 This happened to me once and the only fish that we have in common are the neons and platys so it may be one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreedingFrenzy Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Its happening to me now and I only have tetras. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 You guy's haven't overlooked mentioning bristlenose have you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 That's what I was thinking too Warren. It sounds like a classic case, but no bristlenose on the list?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesejawa Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Did you say you are getting the SAEs or have got them? I would say they would be the most likely cuprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuba Sam Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Thanks for all your ideas. Food for thought. I got the SAE's last night to attempt to sort out the beard algae. The two Amazon swords were separated last week - they had been growing close together and had taken over the front of the tank. On hindsight we only noticed the damage after separating the tank, which was shortly after the bristlenose died. So probably you are correct Warren and Caserole - must have been the bristlenose, and not noticed til after she died and the plants were separated. Would she have nibbled the algae off the leaves too? Left off the list coz she died before we noticed the damage, but starts to make sense now. Thanks for the hints so far guys, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Bristlenose damage the membrane surface of the leaf. Then that section of the leaf dies and rots away. Initially there seems to be no damage then it shows up a day or two later. They seem to be the only algae eating fish to cause that type of damage to sword plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuba Sam Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Thanks Warren - that makes sense. Oh well, hopefully end of problem now that the poor wee dear has passed away. And I was going to put more bristlenoses in there too - maybe not. Many thanks, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaffen Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I have a small bristle-nose, it it doesn't appear to be damaging the swords. Will it start to damage them as it gets bigger? Is there another type of pleco that'd be safe in a planted tank? Sorry for the thread hijack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Bristlenose damage the membrane surface of the leaf. Then that section of the leaf dies and rots away. Initially there seems to be no damage then it shows up a day or two later. They seem to be the only algae eating fish to cause that type of damage to sword plants. Add Blue Panaque to that list - little buggers :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuba Sam Posted June 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 ISorry for the thread hijack! Hijack away Skaffen - I'm just happy to have the answers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Holes in the leaves can be caused by a lack of pottasium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeous Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 There is still the girl in that tank remember - it was the guy that died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindy500 Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Holes in the leaves can be caused by a lack of pottasium so i should put banana in the tank if plants are getting holes in em? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 ive got 4 bns and a red spot pleco i have a sword going good in there . its the clown loaches that do the most damage in my tank they like to pull out my sag and my newly planted glosso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 ive got 4 bns and a red spot pleco i have a sword going good in there . its the clown loaches that do the most damage in my tank they like to pull out my sag and my newly planted glosso As much as I love my clown loaches, my goodness I wish they would leave the plants alone! :evil: They really are little pigs, constantly rooting around in the substrate looking for a bit of left-over breakfast they might have missed. Straight through the new plants as if they weren't there! grrrr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shell Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Banana in the tank... that's hilarious! I had a bristlenose vs sword problem too. Much better now I have Otto's. And they are so cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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