Will plecos's eat aquarium plants?

[jd_7655]

I have 3 pleco's a L128 Blue Phantom, a L333 Hypancistrus, and a L134 Leapord Frog pleco. My Anubia's have been developing holes in the leaves and I can't figure out why. The leaves get holes then the rest of the leaf melts away. It's mostly happening on new growth leafs.

Anyone have any experience with pleco's in planted tanks? For the most part when I feed my fish the pleco's really like shrimp pellets or meaty foods.

[wijnands]

It's not as simple as generalizing all plecos. I believe all your species are omnivores so not overly keen plant matter consumers. I keep ancistrus which prefer a largely vegetarian diet. These do damage plants when they're overly keen on algae but the damage they do isn't little holes.

Your symptoms sound like a nutrient deficiency for the plants. Small holes in new leafs remind me of a potassium shortage. MElting of the whole leaf can be changing conditions, it can also be nitrate shortage. I'd advice you to take some good pictures of the affected areas as well as an overview shot and as full a set of water test readings as you can and take that to a planted tank forum

[Linus_Cello]

Usually my anubias are left alone. But if my plecos do chew on the anubias, its at the base of the stem/petiole, not the leaf of the plant itself.

[jd_7655]

Ok thanks I appreciate the help!

[.Plecomania.]

I've had BN juveniles eat some of my red rubin swords' leaves until they developed holes and ended up all tattered. though the leaves didn't die soon after. the plant kept its leaves until they have run their course. my adult ancistrus don't eat my swords, but when the juvies got hungry...plus they had help from ramshorn snails too.