What is eating my Java Ferns??

[Eldonko]

I got some new fish for my brackish tank last week and I noticed my plants are taking a beating. At first I just had 2 GSP, 1 candy goby, and 1 hermit crab (a marine one I converted) and the plants were fine. I added a columbian shark and 4 bumblebee gobys and my plants are full of holes now. See what I mean:

The shark gives the plants a beating because he he swimming into stuff 24/7 but I have never saw anything actually eating the plants. Any ideas?

 

[Little Fish]

I'm not certain but those looks like puffer bites. From the size of the holes I would guess your GSPs are about 3 inches long? (If it were really your GSPs that did it). The only reason that I guess it were the GSPs is because my F8s nipped similar holes on my Java Ferns, only smaller. I didn't actually saw them did it but they are the only fishes in my brackish tank. When I cleaned the tank, I saw some circular cut-outs at the bottom so they didn't eat it just play around a little bit, I guess.

 

[Eldonko]

I'm not certain but those looks like puffer bites. From the size of the holes I would guess your GSPs are about 3 inches long? (If it were really your GSPs that did it). The only reason that I guess it were the GSPs is because my F8s nipped similar holes on my Java Ferns, only smaller. I didn't actually saw them did it but they are the only fishes in my brackish tank. When I cleaned the tank, I saw some circular cut-outs at the bottom so they didn't eat it just play around a little bit, I guess.

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Hmm, I agree the shape makes it look like puffer bites but I have had the GSPs and the java ferns in this tank for 2 months with no bites in tha plants. The holes just started when I got the bumblebee gobies and the shark last week. I will try and catch one of em in the act heh heh. I can't see how it can be the shark, his mouth is huge and I don't think it could make bites that shape.

My GSPs are small guys, an inch and a half to two inches. Maybe they just took up a new hobby of chewing up my plants.

 

[Little Fish]

So your GSPs are the same sizes as my F8s. I think they should leave similar size holes if the GSPs really did it. Furthermore, my F8s started nipping only after 2 days in the tank. I don't think I have enough evidence so I will temporarily withdraw my charges against the GSPs. I will call in the CSI team to take tissue samples from the Java Ferns.

 

[CFC]

My GSP leaves identical marks in any plants i put unto the tank, they are caused when he picks up snails from the leaves.

 

[Eldonko]

My GSP leaves identical marks in any plants i put unto the tank, they are caused when he picks up snails from the leaves.

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All of those holes appeared within a week and there are no snails in the tank for the GSPs to be picking from the plants. I think either the GSPs just decided that they like biting plants or the bumblebee gobies are doing it.

 

[Little Fish]

My GSP leaves identical marks in any plants i put unto the tank, they are caused when he picks up snails from the leaves.

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All of those holes appeared within a week and there are no snails in the tank for the GSPs to be picking from the plants. I think either the GSPs just decided that they like biting plants or the bumblebee gobies are doing it.

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There are no snails in my tank neither but that didn't stop my F8s from nipping the Java Ferns. It could be a natural instinct...may be like marking their territories. I don't know if my theory will hold water. However, that would explain why your GSPs suddenly nipped the Java Ferns after 2 months. With the additional fishes going into your tank, they might feel the need to mark their territories. I have no reference or scientific method to support this though. Just a wild guess.

The biggest BBGs that I've seen are about an inch or less. I don't know if they can make bite marks bigger than the ones made by my 2 inch F8 (my biggest of the 3). Although I don't think I got the scale right from your posted picture but the holes do look larger than the ones my F8s made.