Pest identification
What's eating my hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba'?
Green hair / filamentous algae
Signs: Threads grow through and above the carpet, shading and killing the tiny leaves
Control: Stabilise CO₂ injection; keep NO₃:PO₄ ratio balanced; introduce Amano shrimp
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
Signs: Slimy mats blanket the carpet, preventing photosynthesis and causing rapid melt
Control: Increase surface agitation and flow across substrate; blackout for 3 days; siphon out
Pest snails
Signs: Snails uproot fragile carpet runners while grazing, creating bare patches
Control: Remove snails before planting; avoid introducing hitchhikers on new plants
Keep hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats dwarf baby tears — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba' problems & fixes
- Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' watering schedule
- Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' light requirements
- Full hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba' care guide
Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' pests — FAQ
What is eating my hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba'?
HC Cuba is the smallest aquarium carpeting plant, highly sensitive to imbalance. Its tiny leaves are easily overtaken by green hair algae or smothered by cyanobacteria when CO₂ or light is inconsistent. Pest snails and some shrimp species can uproot or graze young mats. Algae smothering is by far the most common reason HC Cuba fails.
How do I get rid of green hair / filamentous algae on hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba'?
Threads grow through and above the carpet, shading and killing the tiny leaves Stabilise CO₂ injection; keep NO₃:PO₄ ratio balanced; introduce Amano shrimp
How do I get rid of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) on hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba'?
Slimy mats blanket the carpet, preventing photosynthesis and causing rapid melt Increase surface agitation and flow across substrate; blackout for 3 days; siphon out
How do I get rid of pest snails on hemianthus callitrichoides 'cuba'?
Snails uproot fragile carpet runners while grazing, creating bare patches Remove snails before planting; avoid introducing hitchhikers on new plants