What's eating my euphorbia piscidermis?

Euphorbia piscidermis, the fish-scale euphorbia, is a rare, slow-growing miniature with distinctive scale-like tubercles. Mealybugs are its main pest risk, hiding between the overlapping tubercles where they are difficult to spot. Root mealybugs are a concern if kept too wet. Early treatment is critical given the plant's slow recovery rate.

White waxy fluff concealed between the fish-scale tubercles; the small plant size means even a light infestation causes visible decline. Use a fine-tipped cotton swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol to treat each pocket; follow with diluted neem oil and repeat in 7–10 days.

Growth stalls entirely; white powdery coating on roots visible when carefully unpotted from the small container. Bare-root carefully, rinse roots under gentle water, treat with neem drench, allow to dry for several days, then repot in mineral-based mix.