Who's Eating My Plants?

[nudenurd]

G'day!

I recently set up a new tank with some beautiful big Anubias in it. I've since populated it with fish, but one (or maybe more) of them are chewing on my plants!

Here's what I've got:

2x 4-5 inch bala sharks (soon to go to a larger tank)
5x small tiger barbs
1x 4 inch heckelii
3x small clown loaches
2x sailfin plecos. One is quite small and the other is about 6 inches long (he's soon to go to a larger tank)
1x congo tetra
1x eel-catfish
1x ghost knife

I was under the impression that all of these fish are quite placid and wouldn't touch the plants. Which one(s) might be causing the damage?

Here's some photos, just for fun...

Note the chomped stalks on the left

A terribly mauled leaf

My heckelii in hiding



TIA!

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

most of them will have a go

 

[nudenurd]

Which fish are the least likely to damage the plants?
Is there anything I can do to deter the fish from eating them?

 

[Yetti]

Well, you have 2 kinds of fish that might have a go at the Anubias, the Heckeliis and the clown loaches. The loaches would much rather make holes in the leaves first and then chew them up, but it is most likely the Heckelii.

 

[rdd1952]

I dont think any of the fish are really plant eaters but all will on occasion if they feel the urge. It could also be the snails that you most assuredly have if you have plants.

 

[nudenurd]

Nope - no snails in there. I try and avoid the messy buggers if possible.

Damn... I was hoping it wouldn't be the Heckelii - I want to get another one and breed them!
I think I'll just hope for the best - I can't exactly put the anubias in with the oscars now can I?

 

[Yetti]

They should be ok with the oscar, but he may move them around the tank.

 

[rdd1952]

You say there are no snails but if you have plants, you are almost 100% certain to have snails. They may be small and you aren't seeing them but they're there.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Clowns are notorious plant attackers so I would 2nd that they are probably your main culprit.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Clowns are notorious plant attackers so I would 2nd that they are probably your main culprit.

Really? I have clown loaches in one of my tanks which is medium planted, and the clown loaches do not touch the plants at all.

 

[chucksmo]

Sorry to here about the plants. I have acouple of plants in my tank that my guppies love to eat but not that bad.
About the snails, I would think that if there were some small or whatever size the loaches would have munched on them and taken them out. anyways good luck with finding the culprit.

 

[rdd1952]

You're probably right about the loaches eating the snails. I didn't think of that. I just know that if you get live plants, the snails come free of charge.