Pest identification
What's eating my anubias barteri var. barteri?
Green spot algae (Compsopogon spp.)
Signs: Hard, dark-green circular spots form on slow-growing older leaves, blocking light and disfiguring the plant.
Control: Increase CO2 and maintain phosphate above 0.5 ppm; add algae-eating snails (Neritina) or otocinclus catfish; spot-treat affected leaves with liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) during water changes.
Snail grazing (pond/ramshorn snails)
Signs: Holes and ragged patches eaten from leaves, particularly on softer new growth; trail marks visible on leaf surfaces.
Control: Manually remove snails; introduce assassin snails (Clea helena) to control populations; reduce excess organic matter that supports snail breeding.
Herbivorous fish (goldfish, large cichlids, silver dollars)
Signs: Leaves bitten off or entire rhizomes uprooted; stems stripped bare.
Control: Do not house Anubias with herbivorous fish species; anchor rhizomes to hardscape rather than planting in substrate so they cannot be easily uprooted.
Keep anubias barteri var. barteri pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats broad-leaved anubias — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common anubias barteri var. barteri problems & fixes
- Anubias barteri var. barteri watering schedule
- Anubias barteri var. barteri light requirements
- Full anubias barteri var. barteri care guide
Anubias barteri var. barteri pests — FAQ
What is eating my anubias barteri var. barteri?
Anubias barteri var. barteri is an aquatic plant grown submerged or emersed in aquariums and ponds. Its main threats are algae smothering leaves (especially green spot algae), snail grazing, and in planted tanks, cyanobacteria. Fish such as goldfish or large cichlids will uproot or eat leaves directly.
How do I get rid of green spot algae (compsopogon spp.) on anubias barteri var. barteri?
Hard, dark-green circular spots form on slow-growing older leaves, blocking light and disfiguring the plant. Increase CO2 and maintain phosphate above 0.5 ppm; add algae-eating snails (Neritina) or otocinclus catfish; spot-treat affected leaves with liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde) during water changes.
How do I get rid of snail grazing (pond/ramshorn snails) on anubias barteri var. barteri?
Holes and ragged patches eaten from leaves, particularly on softer new growth; trail marks visible on leaf surfaces. Manually remove snails; introduce assassin snails (Clea helena) to control populations; reduce excess organic matter that supports snail breeding.
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish (goldfish, large cichlids, silver dollars) on anubias barteri var. barteri?
Leaves bitten off or entire rhizomes uprooted; stems stripped bare. Do not house Anubias with herbivorous fish species; anchor rhizomes to hardscape rather than planting in substrate so they cannot be easily uprooted.