Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

In article , LeighMo
writes
If it is the fish or snail, any idea what I can do about it ? The fish
get fed plenty, although I don't tend to put vegetables in the tank
much. Have done once or twice, but they never seemed *that*interested in
them.

If something's eating your plants, putting veggies in the tank will
probably help. A A slice of cucumber, zucchini (courgette, I think you
call it over there), or apple. Frozen peas (peel the skin off first).
A leaf of romaine lettuce. Canned green beans (low salt, if possible).
I would expect your snail, at least, to be interested in these foods.

Might try it again, but as I said, they've never been that interested in
veggies. I usually use either cucumber or peas (30 seconds in the
microwave, then peeled and chopped). Might try something different. I'll
see what the wife has available !! Apple and lettuce should be easy.

Thanx

--
Alan Silver
Please remove the "furryferret" if replying by e-mail

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

Sorry, forgot to reply to that bit !! The holes seem to be in both old
and new.

In that case, it's unlikely to be a deficiency. IME, damage to all leaves, old
and new, usually means some fish or snail thinks your plants are a salad bar.

Well, that worked well !! I'll e-mail the picture to you (it's only 38K,
nothing to worry about).

Okay, got the photo. I've put it up he

http://members.aol.com/leighmo/alan.jpg

I hope you don't mind, but I think letting everyone see it will help with the
diagnosis.

That is most definitely *not* a deficiency. Something is eating your plants.
My guess would be the apple snail, though I can't say for sure.

Have you visited www.applesnail.net? Look at their identification page, and
see if you can tell which species of snail you have. If it's not Pomacea
bridgesii, you have a plant-eater. If it is P. bridgesii, then maybe the plant
leaves are dying for some reason, and the snail knows it, even if you don't.

If anyone else has any idea which critter made those holes, please chime in.
For those who missed the earlier post, the possible candidates a

6 x harlequin rasboras
7 x glowlight tetras
4 x tiger barbs
2 x golden gourami
3 x synodontis velifer
1 x apple snail


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

Snail.

* * * * *

"It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once."
-David Hume


LeighMo wrote in message
...
Sorry, forgot to reply to that bit !! The holes seem to be in both old
and new.

In that case, it's unlikely to be a deficiency. IME, damage to all
leaves, old
and new, usually means some fish or snail thinks your plants are a salad
bar.

Well, that worked well !! I'll e-mail the picture to you (it's only 38K,
nothing to worry about).

Okay, got the photo. I've put it up he

http://members.aol.com/leighmo/alan.jpg

I hope you don't mind, but I think letting everyone see it will help with
the
diagnosis.

That is most definitely *not* a deficiency. Something is eating your
plants.
My guess would be the apple snail, though I can't say for sure.

Have you visited www.applesnail.net? Look at their identification page,
and
see if you can tell which species of snail you have. If it's not Pomacea
bridgesii, you have a plant-eater. If it is P. bridgesii, then maybe the
plant
leaves are dying for some reason, and the snail knows it, even if you
don't.

If anyone else has any idea which critter made those holes, please chime
in.
For those who missed the earlier post, the possible candidates a

6 x harlequin rasboras
7 x glowlight tetras
4 x tiger barbs
2 x golden gourami
3 x synodontis velifer
1 x apple snail


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

Snail.

That was my guess, too, but it is odd that the snail's been there a year, but
didn't start eating plants until recently. Usually, a plant-eating snail
starts on the plants shortly after being put in the tank.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

LeighMo wrote ...

Usually, a plant-eating snail starts on the plants shortly after being put
in the tank.

I think it' may be a size and preference thing. I've had "good" snails that
never touched a plant until they got large or until their favourite
algae/flake food/whatever was no longer available.

kush

* * * * *

"It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once."
-David Hume

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. "
-Benjamin Franklin

"I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have,
beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognizably wiser than
oneself. "
-Marlene Dietrich

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

In article , kush
writes
Usually, a plant-eating snail starts on the plants shortly after being put
in the tank.

I think it' may be a size and preference thing. I've had "good" snails
that never touched a plant until they got large or until their
favourite algae/flake food/whatever was no longer available.

FWIW, the snail hasn't really grown much since I got it and I haven't
changed the food I give.

Thanx for the reply.

--
Alan Silver
Please remove the "furryferret" if replying by e-mail

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

In article , LeighMo
writes
Okay, got the photo. I've put it up he

http://members.aol.com/leighmo/alan.jpg

I hope you don't mind, but I think letting everyone see it will help with the
diagnosis.

I don't mind at all, I'm grateful for the help.

That is most definitely *not* a deficiency. Something is eating your plants.
My guess would be the apple snail, though I can't say for sure.

Have you visited www.applesnail.net? Look at their identification page, and
see if you can tell which species of snail you have. If it's not Pomacea
bridgesii, you have a plant-eater. If it is P. bridgesii, then maybe the plant
leaves are dying for some reason, and the snail knows it, even if you don't.

Looked at the site (fantastic) and am sure that I have P. bridgesii. I
might try taking it out and seeing if that helps.

Don't know if it's relevant, but I looked again yesterday, and the
echinodorus rubin is getting more holes/eaten leaves, whereas the Amazon
sword and the other two echinodorus are pretty much OK. The Amazon has
one or two holes in the leaves, but not big and not many compared to the
size of the plant. The ech. rubin was doing very well until just
recently, but now it's looking a bit sorry.

Thanx for the help.

--
Alan Silver
Please remove the "furryferret" if replying by e-mail

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

Looked at the site (fantastic) and am sure that I have P. bridgesii. I
might try taking it out and seeing if that helps.

It will be all right in a bucket for awhile. They don't even need heaters.
You should have a cover, though, to keep it from climbing out. I use an old
dinner plate.

But I've never known P. bridgesii to eat healthy plants. One time I thought
mine were eating my Amazon sword and crypt leaves, but when I reached in to
prune them the damaged leaves, they came loose very easily. They had rotted
away from the plant at the base, even though they looked fine. They were
emersed-growth leaves, that had died off when I submerged the plants in my
aquarium.

You might try to catch whoever is eating your plants in the act. Sneak up on
the tank during the day, or shine a flashlight in at night.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Plants with holes in leaves - nutrient deficiency ?
 

In article , LeighMo
writes
Looked at the site (fantastic) and am sure that I have P. bridgesii. I
might try taking it out and seeing if that helps.

It will be all right in a bucket for awhile. They don't even need heaters.
You should have a cover, though, to keep it from climbing out. I use an old
dinner plate.

I have a spare (small) tank, so I might use that. In a centrally heated
house it should be OK for a while without a heater.

But I've never known P. bridgesii to eat healthy plants. One time I thought
mine were eating my Amazon sword and crypt leaves, but when I reached in to
prune them the damaged leaves, they came loose very easily. They had rotted
away from the plant at the base, even though they looked fine. They were
emersed-growth leaves, that had died off when I submerged the plants in my
aquarium.

Well the plants are all pretty healthy (apart from the current problem).
Obviously there is the occasional dead leaf, but overall they are in
good health. I do see the apple snail going for the dead leaves, but
that fits with expectations.

You might try to catch whoever is eating your plants in the act. Sneak up on
the tank during the day, or shine a flashlight in at night.

Tried that, but never caught anyone. I have even watched the apple snail
working its way up a large leaf, munching as it goes, but never seen any
evidence that its eating the actual leaf.

Ho hum. Thanx for the help

--
Alan Silver
Please remove the "furryferret" if replying by e-mail