Pest identification
What's eating my echinodorus 'vesuvius'?
Pond/bladder snails
Signs: Holes and rasping damage on spiral leaves; snails hide inside the coiled blades and are hard to spot
Control: Add assassin snails; use a turkey baster to flush snails out of coiled leaves during water changes
BBA and hair algae
Signs: Algae establishes in the detritus-trapping leaf coils; BBA tufts appear at leaf edges
Control: Increase water circulation to prevent detritus settling; dose liquid CO2; spot-treat BBA with H2O2
Green spot algae
Signs: Hard green discs form on the spiralled leaf surfaces, especially on mature blades
Control: Nerite snails can navigate the coiled surface; maintain stable phosphate and 8-hour photoperiod
Keep echinodorus 'vesuvius' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' pests — FAQ
What is eating my echinodorus 'vesuvius'?
Echinodorus 'Vesuvius' is a corkscrew-leaved aquarium sword. Its spiral leaves create micro-pockets that trap detritus and algae spores, making algae colonisation a persistent problem. Snails graze the curled blades and are difficult to evict from the leaf coils. Consistent CO2 and brisk flow minimise both issues.
How do I get rid of pond/bladder snails on echinodorus 'vesuvius'?
Holes and rasping damage on spiral leaves; snails hide inside the coiled blades and are hard to spot Add assassin snails; use a turkey baster to flush snails out of coiled leaves during water changes
How do I get rid of bba and hair algae on echinodorus 'vesuvius'?
Algae establishes in the detritus-trapping leaf coils; BBA tufts appear at leaf edges Increase water circulation to prevent detritus settling; dose liquid CO2; spot-treat BBA with H2O2
How do I get rid of green spot algae on echinodorus 'vesuvius'?
Hard green discs form on the spiralled leaf surfaces, especially on mature blades Nerite snails can navigate the coiled surface; maintain stable phosphate and 8-hour photoperiod