Crypt Melt

I am aware that crypts do not like change, and it is very common - almost certain - that they'll melt shortly after being planted in a tank.


I decided to experiment with plants rooted in the substrate, and everything I've read says crypts are easy beginner plants. So I bought one on 20 October 2020. This seemed to do well, lots of new leaves, while the old ones slowly disappeared. So I got 4 on 23 November 2020. These all did the same - new leaves and the old ones slowly disappearing. Finally 3 more on 7 February 2021. All the different species were chosen because they didn't need strong light. All were doing well. Until 8 March.

I did a water change on 6 March after which the leaves on every crypt started to dissolve - no matter when I got them, they started to disappear.
One of the most recent batch has 1 leaf left; another is just a single stalk about half an inch long. The others do have a few leaves each but nothing like what they were before the water change.



Is it normal for this to happen? All the crypts, whether planted 1 month ago or 4 1/2 months ago, melted at the same time.
Or is it something I did at the water change?


I should add that all fish and snails are accounted for and the unknown number of shrimps are as active as ever. So it's not a contaminant.







On a totally different subject, I received an anubias and a java fern this morning from an Ebay seller who sells shrimp safe plants. Both labels were marked with a UK plant passport.

I haven't touched the plants - or the stalks of the two worst affected - just in case they do regrow. I was very careful when I lifted the two big pieces of wood out to attach the new java fern (Thor's hammer) and anubias (nana fatty).
If I've lost the crypts, I'll put it down to experience and maybe be get some more Schismatoglottis when it comes in again. That's doing well, if small, in the shrimp tank.
At least it's not just me then, if George Farmer can lose them as well 

Mine only lasted a week, and I've been waiting over a week since the crypt melt for any sign of life...

There is hope! The remaining newest crypt, the one with only one leaf left, has two tiny new leaves appearing 

Whatever it was seems to have been a one off, thank goodness. Most of the ones I bought a while ago have new growth, and those that don't seem to have new leaves have at least stopped losing leaves. The only casualty was one of the newest batch which presumably has not grown enough roots. Two of the last 3 were smaller varieties, which is maybe why one died and one has only grown two tiny new leaves.

The crypts are:
October 2020 - wendtii green
November 2020 - wendtii 'Mi Oya'(the one that's not got new growth yet); wendtii Tropica; undulata; legroi
February 2021 - affinis; wendtii compact (died); becketti Petchii (the one with 2 tiny new leaves)

I don't know if the species/variety makes any difference.