Pest identification
What's eating my pogostemon stellatus?
Algae (staghorn, green spot, brush algae)
Signs: Grey tufts or hard green patches on leaves reduce photosynthesis and disfigure growth
Control: Inject CO2 to 25-30 ppm, dose EI or PPS-Pro fertilisers, add siamese algae eaters and Amano shrimp
Ramshorn and bladder snails
Signs: Ragged holes and chewed leaf margins on whorled leaves
Control: Introduce assassin snails or remove egg masses manually; trap adults with cucumber or zucchini slices overnight
Herbivorous fish (goldfish, Buenos Aires tetras)
Signs: Leaves stripped bare, stems bent or severed
Control: Remove incompatible fish species; fast stem growth can partially compensate for minor browsing
Keep pogostemon stellatus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pogostemon stellatus pests — FAQ
What is eating my pogostemon stellatus?
Pogostemon stellatus is a demanding aquarium stem plant with whorled leaves that algae readily colonises under imbalanced conditions. Snails graze the leaf margins and herbivorous fish strip the foliage. Its high light and CO2 requirements mean any disruption creates an opening for algae to outcompete the plant rapidly.
How do I get rid of algae (staghorn, green spot, brush algae) on pogostemon stellatus?
Grey tufts or hard green patches on leaves reduce photosynthesis and disfigure growth Inject CO2 to 25-30 ppm, dose EI or PPS-Pro fertilisers, add siamese algae eaters and Amano shrimp
How do I get rid of ramshorn and bladder snails on pogostemon stellatus?
Ragged holes and chewed leaf margins on whorled leaves Introduce assassin snails or remove egg masses manually; trap adults with cucumber or zucchini slices overnight
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish (goldfish, buenos aires tetras) on pogostemon stellatus?
Leaves stripped bare, stems bent or severed Remove incompatible fish species; fast stem growth can partially compensate for minor browsing