rams in a planted tank

[bettadoug]

i have a heavily planted 55g community tank, and most of my plants are getting holes in them; somethings eating them, and ive been watching but I havent seen any of my fish eat at them yet...
I have German blue rams, rainbows, clown loaches, kuhli loaches, a fully grown bushynose pleco, and an assortment of tetras.
The holes are small -too small for me to suspect the pleco, so I'm thinking the rams.
Does anyone know if rams pick at plants? Because I dont think it would be anything else...

 

[Ulan]

My ram doesn't touch any plants. Some tetras eat plants.

Tiny holes that grow larger are a sign of a potassium deficiency. Add more potassium, about every second day .

 

[fishcatch22]

^I concur. same thing happend to me with my aponogeton until I bouht some root tabs for it.

which plant is it? if it's rooted, then you can either buy a potassium supplement or root tabs with potassium in them.

 

[bettadoug]

its happening mostly on the swords. i have a hygro which i threw in at the start just for a fast grower and it seems to be for the most part whole-free.
theres also an anubias which is for the most part also unaffected.
ill look into the potassium problem

 

[lovemybarbs]

It's the clowns. They are little chewers. Any plant with a leaf like that I've tried are chewed up within a few days. They click when they eat them. :rant2:

 

[cichlidkeeper91]

I think deficiency. Or the bushynose.

 

[Ulan]

its happening mostly on the swords. i have a hygro which i threw in at the start just for a fast grower and it seems to be for the most part whole-free.
theres also an anubias which is for the most part also unaffected.
ill look into the potassium problem

Swords can be treated with root tabs, if you want to go that route.

Just a note: Even if you start with dosing potassium, the old holes won't go away, but new leaves will grow without holes.

 

[Ulan]

I think deficiency. Or the bushynose.

Although, in my experience, the bushynose only damages plants that are already unhealthy.

 

[fishcatch22]

Although, in my experience, the bushynose only damages plants that are already unhealthy.

I concur. my bushy never hurt my plants.

 

[Sammie7]

With the small holes, I'd say it could possibly be the clown loaches. Why would you suspect the rams? I wouldn't think they would be capable of that kind of damage to plants.

On a side note, do you have plans for when the clown loaches outgrow your current tank?