Pest identification
What's eating my ceratopteris thalictroides?
Herbivorous fish (goldfish, cichlids, silver dollars)
Signs: Fish devour soft fronds rapidly, leaving bare stems
Control: Keep only plant-safe fish (nano tetras, rasboras, shrimp); use floating tank dividers
Pest snails
Signs: Snails rasp holes in young fronds and damage plantlets
Control: Manual removal; introduce assassin snails; inspect new plants carefully
Green hair algae
Signs: Threads entangle fast-growing tips, shading new growth
Control: Add Amano shrimp; balance lighting and fertilisation; thin algae by hand
Keep ceratopteris thalictroides pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ceratopteris thalictroides pests — FAQ
What is eating my ceratopteris thalictroides?
Water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) is a fast-growing aquarium and pond fern. Its delicate fronds are readily eaten by herbivorous fish such as goldfish and cichlids. Algae can smother plantlets. In outdoor water gardens, snails graze young fronds. Fish grazing is the most frequent and most destructive problem reported by aquarium hobbyists.
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish (goldfish, cichlids, silver dollars) on ceratopteris thalictroides?
Fish devour soft fronds rapidly, leaving bare stems Keep only plant-safe fish (nano tetras, rasboras, shrimp); use floating tank dividers
How do I get rid of pest snails on ceratopteris thalictroides?
Snails rasp holes in young fronds and damage plantlets Manual removal; introduce assassin snails; inspect new plants carefully
How do I get rid of green hair algae on ceratopteris thalictroides?
Threads entangle fast-growing tips, shading new growth Add Amano shrimp; balance lighting and fertilisation; thin algae by hand