Funny, I am trying to establish some water lilies, for their looks and as cover for smaller fish. I have stocked a fish called red bellied pacu that just loves to eat water lilies. I put them in the pond on March 29 at 1 1/2", about the same time a little girl stocked a turtle. I soon noticed that the water lilies were slowly disappearing, blamed the turtle, and planted more water lilies.
Last evening I was sitting by the pond and watched the pacus eat three water lily leaves, about 14" across, in about 10 minutes. Closely looking at the rest of the lilies I noticed that the edges looked like they had been cut with pinking shears. The pacu are now 8 to 10" long and have a mouth full of teeth, including molars, I am told. I don't know where in the US they are legal, but they are an aquaculture fish so maybe some of you have access. They are herbivores and get quite large.
