Pest identification
What's eating my rotala rotundifolia?
Algae (hair algae, green dust algae)
Signs: Fine green threads or dusty film on leaves reduce photosynthesis and smother slow stems
Control: Shorten photoperiod, raise CO2 to 20-30 ppm, add Amano shrimp and nerite snails, do manual removal during water changes
Pest snails (bladder snails, pond snails)
Signs: Pinholes and ragged leaf edges, worst on tender upper leaves
Control: Trap with cucumber bait, remove manually, introduce assassin snails or a loach to control population
Herbivorous fish (goldfish, Buenos Aires tetras, larger barbs)
Signs: Stems nibbled or fully consumed; plant disappears rapidly in the wrong tankmate mix
Control: Keep only with plant-safe fish; provide refugia or fast-growing stem density if mild nibbling occurs
Spider mites (emersed growth only)
Signs: Fine webbing and stippled, bronzed leaves on emersed or paludarium stems
Control: Increase ambient humidity around emersed growth, spray with insecticidal soap or neem, rinse before submerging
Keep rotala rotundifolia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rotala rotundifolia pests — FAQ
What is eating my rotala rotundifolia?
Rotala rotundifolia is a popular aquarium stem plant threatened mainly by algae when light or CO2 is imbalanced, and by pest snails that rasp its soft leaves. Herbivorous fish readily eat it. Emersed cuttings can attract aphids. Fast, healthy growth is the best defence — a vigorous stem shades out algae and outpaces damage.
How do I get rid of algae (hair algae, green dust algae) on rotala rotundifolia?
Fine green threads or dusty film on leaves reduce photosynthesis and smother slow stems Shorten photoperiod, raise CO2 to 20-30 ppm, add Amano shrimp and nerite snails, do manual removal during water changes
How do I get rid of pest snails (bladder snails, pond snails) on rotala rotundifolia?
Pinholes and ragged leaf edges, worst on tender upper leaves Trap with cucumber bait, remove manually, introduce assassin snails or a loach to control population
How do I get rid of herbivorous fish (goldfish, buenos aires tetras, larger barbs) on rotala rotundifolia?
Stems nibbled or fully consumed; plant disappears rapidly in the wrong tankmate mix Keep only with plant-safe fish; provide refugia or fast-growing stem density if mild nibbling occurs
How do I get rid of spider mites (emersed growth only) on rotala rotundifolia?
Fine webbing and stippled, bronzed leaves on emersed or paludarium stems Increase ambient humidity around emersed growth, spray with insecticidal soap or neem, rinse before submerging