Word of warning for people with plants on bogwood.

I thought I would share my nightmare with you all and hope it happens to non of you.

I bought well over 12 months ago some java fern and some moss on bog wood and added them to my tank and did not think much about it.

Well I looked in my tank last night and my poor poor royal Pleco is in a right state I look closer and can see his side fins are clamped to his body then I notice his gills look strange, them I realise and my heart jumps in my mouth my poor pleco is all tangled it in the nylon thread that has been used to tie the plants to the bog wood! He must have been at point of giving up as I put my hand right to him and was able to pick him up normally he shoots off at the sheer site of you. After a nervous 20 mins I managed to cut the poor pleco free I have to say it was a NIGHTMARE to get him free with out hurting him more. The plants on bog wood are no more no way am I risking that ever ever again, I have taken them out of all my tanks. Please take care and I hope this happens to no one else.

 

Wow, I'm so sorry, that must have been frightening.

I've used fishing line before, but there was never any slack in it. I'm not sure I understand just how he got caught up in it.

 

Some of it must have come off somehow. It's defiantly off the bogwood as I chopped some off to look if it was that and it's the same.

 

That's a bummer. I'm glad you shared your story.

 

That's terrible glad you saw him before it was too late hope the little will be ok

 

Wow!
Thanks for the heads up.

 

Thanks for the advice, once my java is well established I will remove my fish line I used to attach it.

 

I drill holes in my driftwood then put the plants in..

 

I've had success with rubber bands. That's a terrible experience you had.