All right, let me extend this to invertebrates. It's old news that many snails damage plants, and apple snails are notorious for this. However, I was not aware that they even eradicate the hardiest of all plants:
Apple Snail (Pomacea sp.)
damaged Jave fern (Microsorum pteropus)
complete damage (#3) by eating leaves
I learned my lesson. Java fern might not taste good to fish, and my three 2.5'' snails certainly didn't "love" it, but within a week, they completely damaged a 4''x4'' patch. I didn't let them finish it, but transferred it into another tank instead. BTW: Snails were fed with lettuce ad libidum (i.e. 2 leaves/day).
HarleyK
Apple Snail (Pomacea sp.)
damaged Jave fern (Microsorum pteropus)
complete damage (#3) by eating leaves
I learned my lesson. Java fern might not taste good to fish, and my three 2.5'' snails certainly didn't "love" it, but within a week, they completely damaged a 4''x4'' patch. I didn't let them finish it, but transferred it into another tank instead. BTW: Snails were fed with lettuce ad libidum (i.e. 2 leaves/day).
HarleyK
