Pest identification
What's eating my ludwigia arcuata?
Algae (thread algae, staghorn algae)
Signs: Threads tangle in narrow leaves and are hard to remove; plant becomes unsightly and light-starved
Control: Stabilise CO2 above 20 ppm, improve flow, trim and discard heavily infested stems, add Amano shrimp
Pest snails (bladder snails, ramshorn snails)
Signs: Small rasped holes in narrow leaves, leading to die-back of tips
Control: Add assassin snails or a dwarf loach, trap with vegetable bait, avoid overfeeding
Herbivorous fish (Buenos Aires tetras, goldfish, large barbs)
Signs: Slender stems stripped of leaves; small leaves make it a convenient snack for browsing fish
Control: Stock only with plant-safe fish; L. arcuata is not suitable for tanks with any herbivorous species
Aphids (emersed growth only)
Signs: Clusters on exposed tips cause distorted growth and yellowing above the waterline
Control: Submerge the stem briefly to drown aphids, or treat emersed portions with diluted neem oil and rinse
Keep ludwigia arcuata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ludwigia arcuata pests — FAQ
What is eating my ludwigia arcuata?
Ludwigia arcuata is a slender-leaved, light-demanding aquarium plant. Its fine foliage traps algae threads easily when CO2 or iron is low, and pest snails rasp tender leaves. Herbivorous fish consume it readily. When grown emersed, aphids may cluster on stems. High light, stable CO2 and iron supplementation are essential to keep it competitive.
How do I get rid of algae (thread algae, staghorn algae) on ludwigia arcuata?
Threads tangle in narrow leaves and are hard to remove; plant becomes unsightly and light-starved Stabilise CO2 above 20 ppm, improve flow, trim and discard heavily infested stems, add Amano shrimp
How do I get rid of pest snails (bladder snails, ramshorn snails) on ludwigia arcuata?
Small rasped holes in narrow leaves, leading to die-back of tips Add assassin snails or a dwarf loach, trap with vegetable bait, avoid overfeeding
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish (buenos aires tetras, goldfish, large barbs) on ludwigia arcuata?
Slender stems stripped of leaves; small leaves make it a convenient snack for browsing fish Stock only with plant-safe fish; L. arcuata is not suitable for tanks with any herbivorous species
How do I get rid of aphids (emersed growth only) on ludwigia arcuata?
Clusters on exposed tips cause distorted growth and yellowing above the waterline Submerge the stem briefly to drown aphids, or treat emersed portions with diluted neem oil and rinse