Pest identification
What's eating my hemianthus micranthemoides?
Green hair algae
Signs: Threads weave through stems and shade small leaves, causing yellowing and die-back
Control: Add Amano shrimp; reduce photoperiod; dose micro- and macronutrients consistently
Herbivorous fish
Signs: Fish nip soft growing tips, stunting stems and causing bushy die-back
Control: Keep with small, plant-safe species only (nano tetras, rasboras, Otocinclus)
Pest snails
Signs: Rasping damage to leaf surface causes transparent patches and wilting
Control: Manual removal; assassin snails; quarantine all new plant additions
Keep hemianthus micranthemoides pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Hemianthus micranthemoides pests — FAQ
What is eating my hemianthus micranthemoides?
Pearl weed (Hemianthus micranthemoides) is a stem plant for aquariums. Its delicate small leaves are attacked by algae when nutrients or light fluctuate, and herbivorous fish nibble the soft tips. Pest snails can graze new growth. Green hair algae tangling through the dense stems is the most common and damaging issue hobbyists encounter.
How do I get rid of green hair algae on hemianthus micranthemoides?
Threads weave through stems and shade small leaves, causing yellowing and die-back Add Amano shrimp; reduce photoperiod; dose micro- and macronutrients consistently
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish on hemianthus micranthemoides?
Fish nip soft growing tips, stunting stems and causing bushy die-back Keep with small, plant-safe species only (nano tetras, rasboras, Otocinclus)
How do I get rid of pest snails on hemianthus micranthemoides?
Rasping damage to leaf surface causes transparent patches and wilting Manual removal; assassin snails; quarantine all new plant additions