Gah, My Poor Plant! Who Did It?!

DeusExCalibur · 07-10-2012, 11:05 PM

I picked up the following fish yesterday:

1x Spotted Climbing Perch
3x Angelicus Botia

Today, I came home from work and found my poor sword punched with holes. Any idea who did it? Thankfully this is the only plant it/they touched.

**Trickerie** · 07-10-2012, 11:45 PM

Most likely the loaches. Did you feed them? They could have been very hungry, I doubt the gourami did it. I could be wrong, though

**Complexity** · 07-11-2012, 12:38 AM

Definitely the loaches. Quoted from this link: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/p...gelicus-loach/

"Several aquarists have mentioned that loaches will sometimes eat live plants, with swords (Echinodorus sp) being particular favourites; signs of this will be several small holes eaten in the leaves."

DeusExCalibur · 07-11-2012, 01:15 AM

Doh. When I did research I read they were primarily carniverous so I didn't think twice about them eating my swords of all things. I think I'll throw in some algae wafers/zucchini and hope it keeps them from eating my plants. If not, I guess I'll move them to my non-planted 55g. I just thought they'd enjoy the planted tank better.

**Complexity** · 07-11-2012, 01:30 AM

It seems they only like a few plants so you may just have to let go of those plants to keep them. There are a number of fish that like swords. It seems they are pretty tasty in the fish world.

07-10-2012, 11:05 PM	#1
DeusExCalibur Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Jersey/ Jersey Shore Posts: 62	Gah, My Poor Plant! Who Did It?! I picked up the following fish yesterday: 1x Spotted Climbing Perch 3x Angelicus Botia Today, I came home from work and found my poor sword punched with holes. Any idea who did it? Thankfully this is the only plant it/they touched. Attached Thumbnails

07-11-2012, 12:38 AM	#3
Complexity Pelvicachromis Lover! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 5,058	Definitely the loaches. Quoted from this link: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/p...gelicus-loach/ "Several aquarists have mentioned that loaches will sometimes eat live plants, with swords (Echinodorus sp) being particular favourites; signs of this will be several small holes eaten in the leaves." __________________ Vicki —Rena Filstar pimp #142 (four XP4s/three XP2s/one XP1) • Eheim pimp #301 (Pro II 2128) • Victor pimp #27 (VTS-253B-320) • 90g - Journal Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' —— • 75g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'Lagos Red' Better Pics 8-24 • 29g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'unknown' —-- • 29g - Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' • 5g - RCS colony —————————————————— • 2.5g - Journal Retired

07-11-2012, 01:30 AM	#5
Complexity Pelvicachromis Lover! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 5,058	It seems they only like a few plants so you may just have to let go of those plants to keep them. There are a number of fish that like swords. It seems they are pretty tasty in the fish world. __________________ Vicki —Rena Filstar pimp #142 (four XP4s/three XP2s/one XP1) • Eheim pimp #301 (Pro II 2128) • Victor pimp #27 (VTS-253B-320) • 90g - Journal Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' —— • 75g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'Lagos Red' Better Pics 8-24 • 29g - Journal Pelvicachromis pulcher 'unknown' —-- • 29g - Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' • 5g - RCS colony —————————————————— • 2.5g - Journal Retired

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07-10-2012, 11:45 PM	#2
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	Most likely the loaches. Did you feed them? They could have been very hungry, I doubt the gourami did it. I could be wrong, though

07-11-2012, 01:15 AM	#4
DeusExCalibur Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Jersey/ Jersey Shore Posts: 62	Doh. When I did research I read they were primarily carniverous so I didn't think twice about them eating my swords of all things. I think I'll throw in some algae wafers/zucchini and hope it keeps them from eating my plants. If not, I guess I'll move them to my non-planted 55g. I just thought they'd enjoy the planted tank better.