Feeding and Nutrition :: Anacharis MESS!

[scripta_elegans]

Spot's Mama warned me that the Anacharis would clog my filter intake long ago. 'Bah," I said, "They nibble at it all the time, and I've yet to see a problem." Um, apparently they decided to be more like grown up turtles this weekend. They ripped it to shreds. Here's a look at my filter intake. Can you find it?

[Breigh]

Yup mine shred anacharis as well. Right now I have a pile of it shredded on the bottom of my tank and I keep having to resist the urge to take it out because I'm hoping they'll eat it hehe

[Spookster]

Yeah it clogs ours all the time when I put anacharis in the tank. Our turtle is ornery and likes to rip the plants to shreds regardless if she plans to eat it or not. After she does that all the little leaves head straight to the intake pipe.

[grey goose]

My three guys shred them too.

[SpotsMama]

Yeah, that's what turtles do! Spot will eat his anacharis more than tear it up (he's a big boy now and appreciates his veggies) but even so he'll make something of a mess. It's not too bad, though, as long as I don't put too much in. I made a mistake a month ago and put in two whole bunches of anacharis plus some other kind of plant. He simply wasn't able to eat it all but he did pretty well rip it up so it did clog the filter. The lesson I learned is that, with him, I only put a little (one bunch) in at a time and then he'll make a little mess but it won't clog the filter. I just can't deprive him of it altogether because he likes to eat it a lot, and I know it's good for him and the water quality, too.