Plants being stripped

[Tippy]

Just wondering if anyone had any hints on plants that "run of the mill" fish will not munch on .... at the moment I have 4 neons, 1 glowlight and 3 peppered corys - I have about half a dozen plants in my 2 foot by 1 foot tank at the moment but they are all slowly being stripped, although having said that I have three of the same type (do not know what it is called although it is quite upright and have little leaves sprouting from the main stem of the plant, unlike the others that I have which are quite broad leaved) and they are being systematically stripped of their leaves - the small leaved plants will literally be stalks shortly and the broad leave plants are being nibbled at the edges now ......

Is this just something you hve to deal with and let happen ? I have read several inserts in the forum about Java Ferns - are these readily available in the UK ?

Thanks for your help !

 

[LimpyFins]

i don't know how readily available they are in the UK (i'm in USA), but java ferns are a good idea. i've also had luck with water wysteria. it's also advisable to have cheap fine-leaf plants in your tank specifically for plant munchers. that way, they'll not bother the other plants.

 

[MarkF]

I have exactly the same problem in my tank and there is one plant that has proved immune - Anubis Nana - It has to be attached to a rock or driftwood and has nice shiny broad leaves - it will also flower i am told - you must not cover the roots or else they will rot. All my others are slowly being stripped, but i guess it keeps the fish healthy

 

[allnatural]

We need a little more info.

Just curious, have you actually seen the fish eating the plants? Did you have lush plants, and then after you added fish they started getting eaten, or did you recently add the plants to your current fish?

Do you have any snails? SOME and I mean SOME snails will eat plants. Most do not. If the snails are not being fed with algae wafers, bottom feeder tabs, etc. they may turn to plants as a food source. I have several planted tanks with TONS of snails, big ones and small ones (because I like'm). Ya gotsta feed snails just like your fishies.

--Tim

 

[Tippy]

Sorry guys, have been off line for a few days !

As to your question Allnatural, I have only really seen the Corys on the bigger leaved plants but they do not seem to be "eating" the plants! I have noticed the odd neon having a little peck or two ...

It added the plants about 3 weeks ago into gravel only substrate. I have feed them as advised by my lfs. However quite a few of the leaves have now started to go yellow and a few brown. I have removed the brown ones as I am assuming that they are dead.

I have noticed that one of the broad leaved plants has a green fussy like algae growing on it ... should I remove this ???

Anything else I can tell you about my set up that might help ???