Leaf Eaters

[andyroo]

My plants are primarily fine-leaved, long, stringy bargains- i don't know the names- and I've never had problems with them. They don't grow particularly quickly (low nutrients, too much shade) but they have always been (apparently) healthy.
Two weeks ago I got a couple of these Columbian tetras and a little headstander that'd been in the shop for about a year.
And now, the bottoms of the plants are picked back to stems- they look terrible. I suspect the headstander, though I haven't really seen it do anything naughty.
Suggestions? I'm eyeing up leafier plants and setting cuttings of these current plants in refuge spots that this little fish doesn't seem to go.
A

[Diana]

It is the Tetras. I had one as a contaminant in a shipment once, and it was a plant nibbler.
I have only kept Anostomus anostomus among the headstanders, and these did not bother the plants. Maybe the other species do.

Most of the stem plants can be trimmed and the tops replanted. The old stems of most species will recover if there are still some leaves, not many will recover if you trim them into the area without leaves. Some will come back from even that, though.
The new growth is more likely to be nibbled by the fish.

[andyroo]

Marbled Headstander, apparently
Abramites hypselonotus
Seems plant-eating is the norm. Will start feeding leafy veg now and again and up the veg to the loaches. Seems pretty docile, though he was the angry one in the shop. Will likely pick up bad habits in my tank of reprobates regardless....
A

[Diana]

Feeding vegies may indeed help. Some plant eaters like vegies so much they give up eating plants. Especially if the plants are less interesting ones like Java Fern and others.