Pest identification
What's eating my cryptocoryne beckettii?
Pond/bladder snails
Signs: Pinholes and ragged edges on broad leaves; rapid multiplication fouls the tank
Control: Hand-pick adults; use assassin snails or nerite snails (which do not breed in freshwater) to keep numbers down
Algae (hair algae, green dust)
Signs: Smothers slow-growing leaves; shades crown and stunts new growth
Control: Shorten the photoperiod, add liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde), introduce Amano shrimp or otocinclus
Crypt rot
Signs: Sudden leaf melt — blades dissolve to transparent mush within days of a water change
Control: Avoid large water changes; match new water temperature and pH; rhizomes survive and re-shoot if left undisturbed
Keep cryptocoryne beckettii pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Cryptocoryne beckettii pests — FAQ
What is eating my cryptocoryne beckettii?
Cryptocoryne beckettii lives submerged or emersed in aquariums and paludariums. Its chief enemies are snails that chew leaves, algae that outcompete it for light, and Crypt rot caused by sudden water changes. Keeping water parameters steady and trimming algae promptly prevents most damage.
How do I get rid of pond/bladder snails on cryptocoryne beckettii?
Pinholes and ragged edges on broad leaves; rapid multiplication fouls the tank Hand-pick adults; use assassin snails or nerite snails (which do not breed in freshwater) to keep numbers down
How do I get rid of algae (hair algae, green dust) on cryptocoryne beckettii?
Smothers slow-growing leaves; shades crown and stunts new growth Shorten the photoperiod, add liquid carbon (glutaraldehyde), introduce Amano shrimp or otocinclus
How do I get rid of crypt rot on cryptocoryne beckettii?
Sudden leaf melt — blades dissolve to transparent mush within days of a water change Avoid large water changes; match new water temperature and pH; rhizomes survive and re-shoot if left undisturbed