Pest identification
What's eating my echinodorus 'red flame'?
Pond/bladder snails
Signs: Chewed holes in both young and mature leaves; young red growth particularly attractive to snails
Control: Add assassin snails or loaches; manual removal during water changes; reduce tank overfeeding
Green dust algae
Signs: Fine green film on red leaf surfaces; easy to miss against dark pigmentation
Control: Wipe leaves gently with a soft cloth; shorten photoperiod; introduce nerite snails
BBA (black beard algae)
Signs: Dark tufts at leaf margins and on older blades reduce photosynthesis and are difficult to remove
Control: Stabilise CO2 supply; spot-apply 3% H2O2 with a syringe on affected areas; add Siamese algae eaters
Keep echinodorus 'red flame' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' pests — FAQ
What is eating my echinodorus 'red flame'?
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' is a striking red-leaved sword cultivar kept in aquariums. Like other sword plants it is vulnerable to snail grazing and algae on maturing leaves. The red pigmentation can make early algae colonisation harder to spot, so inspect leaves closely under good light at each water change.
How do I get rid of pond/bladder snails on echinodorus 'red flame'?
Chewed holes in both young and mature leaves; young red growth particularly attractive to snails Add assassin snails or loaches; manual removal during water changes; reduce tank overfeeding
How do I get rid of green dust algae on echinodorus 'red flame'?
Fine green film on red leaf surfaces; easy to miss against dark pigmentation Wipe leaves gently with a soft cloth; shorten photoperiod; introduce nerite snails
How do I get rid of bba (black beard algae) on echinodorus 'red flame'?
Dark tufts at leaf margins and on older blades reduce photosynthesis and are difficult to remove Stabilise CO2 supply; spot-apply 3% H2O2 with a syringe on affected areas; add Siamese algae eaters