Pest identification
What's eating my hygrophila pinnatifida?
Black beard algae (Audouinella sp.)
Signs: Dark tufts on the margins of the heavily lobed leaves and along the stem nodes
Control: Spot-treat with Excel/glutaraldehyde; stabilise CO2; add Siamese algae eaters or Florida flag fish
Green spot algae
Signs: Hard green spots on older leaves, especially on the upper leaf surface under bright lighting
Control: Shorten photoperiod; dose phosphate to 1–2 ppm; deploy nerite snails
Aquarium snails
Signs: Light grazing on older or damaged leaf sections; usually minor on healthy tissue
Control: Manual removal; assassin snails for persistent infestations
Keep hygrophila pinnatifida pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Hygrophila pinnatifida pests — FAQ
What is eating my hygrophila pinnatifida?
Hygrophila pinnatifida has tougher, more textured leaves than other Hygrophila species, making it less palatable to snails and fish. Black beard algae is its main adversary, colonising the deeply lobed leaf surfaces in tanks with CO2 fluctuations. Shrimp and otocinclus are effective, fish-safe controls for algae in this plant's tank.
How do I get rid of black beard algae (audouinella sp.) on hygrophila pinnatifida?
Dark tufts on the margins of the heavily lobed leaves and along the stem nodes Spot-treat with Excel/glutaraldehyde; stabilise CO2; add Siamese algae eaters or Florida flag fish
How do I get rid of green spot algae on hygrophila pinnatifida?
Hard green spots on older leaves, especially on the upper leaf surface under bright lighting Shorten photoperiod; dose phosphate to 1–2 ppm; deploy nerite snails
How do I get rid of aquarium snails on hygrophila pinnatifida?
Light grazing on older or damaged leaf sections; usually minor on healthy tissue Manual removal; assassin snails for persistent infestations