Habitat - Outdoor :: Question about Worms Eating my Water Lettuce

[together28]

Hi, I bought some water lettuce about 3 weeks ago and they looked fine and healthy at that time. Within the past 5 days I've noticed that half of the 12 plants have a bunch of little holes all throughout the leaves. Some of the leaves have a white coating over them.

At first I thought Bubba (RES - guessing he's a yearling) was eating the leaves but today I noticed a white worm coming out of one of the leaves. It was like the worm was inside the leaf, eating it from the inside out. It was small but thick for being so small.

I'm not sure what this is - a larvae of some kind, a type of worm that eats plants, whatever. I don't have a green thumb but I'd like to get rid of these worms before the rest of the lettuce are ruined and I get more. I looked closely at the other plants and I didn't see any more but they have to be there for so many to be ruined. I threw out the infected plants.

Also, most importantly, if I treat the leaves or the water, it has to be safe for Bubba. I have water lettuce and anacharis in the pond and he likes both plants.

Also, is there something safe that can treat the water to protect against mosquito eggs?

Thanks for your help!

Debra

[scottpkura]

I don't know, but maybe you can have a pond fish that preys on your pests. You may have to research your pests to get the answer.

[together28]

Do you think mosquito fish would help with pond pests? At 2 inches long, would my RES try to eat the fish and is it okay if he does?

I'm still concerned about a balanced diet. Im giving him 4-5 ReptoMin pellets twice a day now and only one piece of baby shrimp or mini krill once a day but that may still be too much protein. He comes right to me when I bring his food and he gobbles it up like he's starving, maybe because I was feeding him shrimp and krill twice each day before and was overfeeding him.

I put some small pieces of romaine lettuce in the pond but he has no interest in it. He may be eating the water lettuce or the anacharis but I can't tell. What is a good way to get him to eat the romaine lettuce or something else that will balance his nutrition more?

For the past week there has been a toad or frog hanging out in the pond too. Is his presence okay for my RES or will they compete for the same food, etc?

[moonlighter]

my res has had mosquito fish in the tank since she was very small. no interest in the fish until recently when she got about 4". She can only catch them when the lights come on in the morning and the fish are a lillte stunned. I don't think the other reptiles in the pond can out compete the res. From the advice i have seen on this site, you may be over feeding. read the care section, much good info.