FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I recently "rescued" an ozelot sword from my mom's tank that had lost all but two of its leaves (one mature leaf and one that was just sprouting). I planted it in my 10-gallon tank, and now about a week later, it had lost both of those leaves. Should I write it off as dead, and pull the roots and stuff from the tank, or does it still have a chance of coming back?

><>

transplanted swords do tend to grow new leaves instead of the current ones continuing to grow, although I can't say for sure that the plant will recover a complete loss. They can take a bit of time for the new ones to come up, so perhaps leaving it for another couple of weeks wouldn't hurt? I've had them get down to 2 or 3 surviving leaves, but haven't ever lost all of them, so I'm kind of guessing here.

Do you fert?

I vote! Do you?

Hi,
A couple of things...
It sounds like the plants were on their last legs when you
got them. At that time you should have cleaned them under
running tap water that was the same temperature as the
aquarium. While in the water you should remove any brown
or black roots. Good, healthy, roots are white. Also, you
should have snipped off any dead or dying leaves.

If the body of the plant, the crown were the roots start
down and the leaves start up, is firm, and not soft and
mushy, then the plant should make a full recovery.

Amazon Swords establish huge root systems and primarily draw
their nutrients from the substrate. That being said, it
would be a great idea to put some fertilizer in the gravel.
To do that you can use products such as Tetra-min plant
tablets, balls, or sticks. Place them about an inch
or two out from the plant, at the 4 compass points
around the body of the plant and down into the gravel
so they are covered from sight.

If you did these things, then the plants have their best
shot at recovery. If not, try using the under gravel
fertilizers. Run the lights for 10 hrs/day, and wait to
see the results.

Remember too, that any time you uproot a plant to move it,
be it from one part of the tank to another or from one
tank to another, the plant has to re-acclimate to its new
surroundings. It does that by growing new roots, and
allowing more mature leaves to die off while new baby
leaves form. In this acclimation process it uses up its
stored reserves of nutrients.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Also I find that with swords you need a good liquid fert As well Something that is a Black water Extract is perfect, such as Flora boost. Using the black water extract I have saved a couple of swords that most people would have would have written off.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

I use Kent Freshwater Plant Fertilizer (liquid) daily and most of the substrate is fluorite. There were some white roots, as well as some light brownish ones that appear to have been rootbound in the pot it came in. I haven't felt the crown of the plant to see if it was squishy. The two leaves that were on it were healthy when I planted it. 10-hr per day lights is my normal schedule I don't have any under gravel ferts. My mom had some sticks, but she used the last one today with some new plants. Thanks for the help so far.

><>

i have had some sword completely die off and grow back at a slow pace...

there wont be any immediate recovery (at least not for a couple weeks or so) the you will see it sprouting agin... if yodont then feel the crown and see if it si squishy at all! if it is the toss it as it will taint yor water... if it isnt try getting some root tabs and giving them to the sword to aid in its recovery...

good luck and keep us posted o how it is doing!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

I have a couple of different kinds of sword in my tank and they are all thriving with 12 hours of light every day. I haven't intentionally grown these plant, I have just added lots of them because I think they look good and my pleco loves them. I have been shocked at how well all the plants have been growing since I lengthened the daylight they have.

You got a lot of really good advice here. I am currently studying botany and the most basic principle is to provide the nutrients needed for the plant to produce its own food. With no leaves, there can be no photosynthesis so the plant is not making its own food right now. It has only the food stored in its roots. But if there is any green on the stem or that which is left then there is a chance that it might sprout and grow. It just depends on what food it has in storage.

I've studied a lot of botany myself (including an aquatic botany class), but the one thing I'm not sure of is whether or not swords have the ability top store energy in the roots. I know crypts and anubias can, I have grown them back from roots/rhizome before. Swords I didn't know could bounce back after losing the leaves/photosynthesis source.

><>

i have had them grow back, just give them a root tab and it should bounce back in a few weeks...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Something else if you can get the SeaChem Flourish Tabs. They work wonders for Swords.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

It sounds like this plant could have a chance. If so the right growth hormones would surely speed up the process. How is it looking now? Have you tried anything on it like fertilizer or anything? I'm just really curious.

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is Flourish Excel. If you are running lower light and no CO2, Excel really helps swords grow.

My old 55G set up only had 30W of light over the whole tank. That is less than a watt/gal. My sword grew pretty well when I used excel on a daily basis. Now when I redid my 55G and upped the light and added CO2 it exploded!!



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks - I had DIY CO2 (3 WPG light) and Kent freshwater plant ferts. Today when I did my WC I checked the crown and it was soft. All the roots were brown. So I chucked it :\ It's good to know for next time that they can grow back, though.

><>

sorry to hear that... good luck with any swords int eh future though!!!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

They can't all be saved.
Better luck next time.