Re: Rotala Wallichii & SAE's

[Biplane10 at aol_com]

Thanks for the responses. The platy and swordtail are off to another green 
pasture, sans rotala wallichi. 

I do feed spirulina flakes, but I guess it's just no subsitute for the 
delectable little pickings on these plants. It seems this is a plant that 
can't weather the nibbling that other fine leafed plants such as ambulia, 
cabomba, mayaca can handle. I'd suspected the problem may have been 
environmental, especially since I'd stopped water column fertilization a few 
weeks ago. But, coincidentally, the decline began  over the last week (since 
bringing the 2 in) and it's been looking more and more ragged. I just never 
saw them do it. Funny, I brought them in for algae control.

Well, so much for searching for the elusive SAE--I'm glad I didn't go out of 
my way for it. Thanks for the advice. What kind of shrimp do I want? Tom, are 
you noticing any damage or results?

Sylvia

> >My experience with swordtails is that they will nibble on most soft-leaved 
> >plants. I am not sure if they are after algae or the plant itself. Now I 
will 
> >see them picking on tougher-leaved plants(anubias) too, but they are just 
> >cleaning up algae, can't rip the leaf. I think live-bearers appreciate 
more 
> >vegetable matter. Try feeding spirulina flakes or 

> >Swordtails will crop R. Wallichii leaves back to the stems.  Platy's are
>  >so similar that I have to suspect they will do the same.  SAEs alse nibble
>  >R. Wallichii and I suspect many other fish will also.
>  
>  I have found this to be true also with these fishes. Barbs also.
>  Shrimps and snails are the best cleaners of these fine needled tasty plants
>  IMO.
>  R. wallichii can be stunted easily(from environmental stresses) and the 
tips
>  look like someone has been chewing on them.
>  Sometimes I have blamed the fish but it was tank conditions. I have watched
>  them eat the plant personally many times but have never seen damage from
>  snails or shrimps. If the plant is doing good sometimes it will grow out
>  well enough to out pace to nibbling and if the SAE's have plenty of other
>  food..............then maybe...........if your lucky...................
>  With delicate plants and displays, Amano also uses these animals(shrimps
>  - -much more) typically. I'm trying the 1 shrimp per gallon test to see how
>  well they perform on a tank that has R. wallichii and some other delicate
>  plants that I don't trust SAE's, barbs, platies, etc to.
>  
>  >>>Swordtails will crop R. Wallichii leaves back to the stems.  Platy's are
>  >so similar that I have to suspect they will do the same.  SAEs alse nibble
>  >R. Wallichii and I suspect many other fish will also.
>  
>  >
>  >I cant speak for Rotala, since I dont keep it, by I have observed my SAEs
>  >for hours going over delicate stem plants like Ambulia, Alternanthera,
>  >Myaca, and although they are eating something, its never the plant. 
Detris,
>  >algae, scum?
>  
>   >Ahhh, SAE's do eat/damage R. wallichii. I promise. The other plants are 
fine
>    >except this one.

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