aaagh! my riccia fluitans was grazed!

[tanksalot]

Do you think my Pleco did it ? He has never touched any of the plants in our very planted 60 g . Was the riccia just too tasty? There are only a few little strands left, I hope it will regenerate! It wouldn't have died off on its own over night would it?

In the tank there are:
6 Rummy Noses
3 CAE's or false SAE's
4 Ottos
3 Ghost Shrimp
6 Guppies
1 Clown Loach
1 Red Sail-Fin Pleco (4 inches)

and close to 20 varieties of plants...only the riccia is grazed!
If you guys think I should move the Pleco, he could easily go back to his 35 g home...I just enjoyed watching him in the big tank :-(

/tanksalot

[Stevie]

I had a pleco in my 50 gallon and noticed that all my plants were looking lacey like he was sucking the middles out of the leaves.  I moved him to my 150 gal and the plants are recovering.  I'd say it's the pleco doing it!

[tanksalot]

That is what is so strange I haven't noticed any marks on any of the other plants! Does anyone know if riccia is especially tasty or quick to die off, most of the riccia pad/screen is just bare now with only bits around the edges .

[tanksalot]

Ah! I just found my own answer and posting it here in case anyone else is growing riccia fluitans and may be interested...

"It may well be the first item chosen to be eaten. Therefore, do not try to cultivate it in quantities in a tank filled with plecostomus and then wonder why the growth rate is non-existent. "

from:
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/plants/McMullen_Riccia_fluitans.html