Pest identification
What's eating my eleocharis sp. 'mini'?
Green hair algae
Signs: Threads tangle around thin blades, preventing light from reaching the base and killing runners
Control: Stabilise CO₂; introduce Amano shrimp and Otocinclus; trim algae-covered tips and replant
Cyanobacteria
Signs: Slimy mat smothers carpet sections at substrate level, causing rapid melt
Control: Increase water flow at substrate level; blackout 3 days; siphon out affected areas
Pest snails
Signs: Burrowing and grazing activity uproots fine runners during establishment
Control: Remove all snails before planting; quarantine new plants; use tweezers to replant runners
Keep eleocharis sp. 'mini' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Eleocharis sp. 'Mini' pests — FAQ
What is eating my eleocharis sp. 'mini'?
Dwarf hairgrass 'Mini' (Eleocharis sp. 'Mini') is a fine-leaved aquarium carpeting plant. Its grass-like blades trap debris and are prone to algae smothering, particularly green hair algae, when CO₂ is unstable. Pest snails disrupt newly planted runners. Some shrimp graze on algae attached to blades but rarely damage healthy plants themselves.
How do I get rid of green hair algae on eleocharis sp. 'mini'?
Threads tangle around thin blades, preventing light from reaching the base and killing runners Stabilise CO₂; introduce Amano shrimp and Otocinclus; trim algae-covered tips and replant
How do I get rid of cyanobacteria on eleocharis sp. 'mini'?
Slimy mat smothers carpet sections at substrate level, causing rapid melt Increase water flow at substrate level; blackout 3 days; siphon out affected areas
How do I get rid of pest snails on eleocharis sp. 'mini'?
Burrowing and grazing activity uproots fine runners during establishment Remove all snails before planting; quarantine new plants; use tweezers to replant runners