What's eating my cryptocoryne albida?

Cryptocoryne albida is a slow-growing aquarium plant susceptible to Cryptocoryne rot (a sudden melt of leaves caused by environmental stress) and snail damage. Fish such as goldfish and cichlids uproot and nibble rhizomes. Algae smothers low-growing leaves in high-light tanks. Stable water conditions prevent most problems.

Pinholes and ragged edges on older leaves; small snails graze algae but large species destroy tissue Hand-pick pest snails; use snail traps; keep only small species (Nerite) that do not damage healthy leaves

Leaves bitten off; rhizomes uprooted and floating loose; plant fails to re-establish Only keep Cryptocoryne with fish species that do not graze plants; protect rhizomes with pebble anchoring or root tabs buried deep

Hard green spots coat the broad leaves, blocking photosynthesis on slow-growing foliage Reduce lighting duration; keep phosphate in balance; introduce Nerite snails as biological control