sword damage

[Russ84]

Will a sailfin pleco do this to sword plants? i was told it was emersed growth shedding but it has been almost 2 months now and only the swords on the right side of the tank are like this. ????????????

thanks. let me know if you need a closer photo

 

[Will Hayward]

Yes, that is common damage from plecos. Maybe you should keep species that prefer meatier foods. Or feed the pleco better foods at all times to discourage it. Or consider taking him out and putting in otocinclus catfish if he is in their for algae control.

 

[WyldFya]

Yes, that is common damage from plecos. Maybe you should keep species that prefer meatier foods. Or feed the pleco better foods at all times to discourage it. Or consider taking him out and putting in otocinclus catfish if he is in their for algae control.

Not pleco damage at all. Aside from that, with an aro that big, the pleco isn't going to be that small. If he is over 4", then he is too big to do damage to swords that looks like that. Also, sailfin plecos do prefer a meaty diet when large. Even large panaques can be kept with plants with no damage other than uprooting.

 

[WyldFya]

Will a sailfin pleco do this to sword plants? i was told it was emersed growth shedding but it has been almost 2 months now and only the swords on the right side of the tank are like this. ????????????

thanks. let me know if you need a closer photo

Your swords are beginning to shed their emersed growth. They will soon start sending up leaves that are long and narrow. These are submerged growth.

 

[Will Hayward]

I disagree. By my understanding they have been planted submersed for around 60 days already. And plecos will do damage to large leaf plants at sizes well over just 4".

 

[WyldFya]

I disagree. By my understanding they have been planted submersed for around 60 days already. And plecos will do damage to large leaf plants at sizes well over just 4".

Not that type of damage. The length of time submerged has little point. Those plants are still in emersed growth. Large plecos can't do that damage, as they are too heavy to be supported by the leaves.

 

[Will Hayward]

Ok, it's from the emersed growth dying. But you're a nut if you think plecos cannot do that at large sizes, let alone a pint sized 4".

 

[schaadrak]

Or consider taking him out and putting in otocinclus catfish...

How much algae are the oto's going to control from the inside of that aro?

 

[Will Hayward]

I'm not an arrowana keeper. But from several tanks I've seen, a good 20" arrow might not pay attention to a half dozen 3/4" ottos. I could be wrong, depends the fish I suppose. I've seen it work before.

 

[WyldFya]

Ok, it's from the emersed growth dying. But you're a nut if you think plecos cannot do that at large sizes, let alone a pint sized 4".

I don't think... I know. I keep both in most of my tanks. I know that a 4" SL pleco of pretty much any species will not be able to be supported by a leaf that is as weak as a amazon sword in its emersed growth, converting to submerged growth. 4" is not 'pint sized', it is quite a bit of weight compared to the strength of a stem. An extremely large pleco could weigh the leaf down, but even so, it is rare for them to eat live plants, unless they are not being fed a proper diet.