Plant typefloating
Native range
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Belize
- Bolivia
floating surface
A small floating fern from tropical America, with paired oval leaves covered in water-repellent hairs. It grows very fast, which makes it a good nutrient sponge and a nuisance in equal measure.
- Light
- low
- Difficulty
- easy
- Height
- 3 – 5 cm
- Temperature
- 18 – 32 °C
Parameters
Growth ratevery fast
CO₂ demandlow
Tolerates lightmedium – high
pH5 – 8
Carbonate hardness0 – 21 °dKH
General hardness0 – 30 °dGH
Placementsurface
Propagationfragmentation, division +1
Grows emersedno
Appearance
Rounded leaves 1 to 2 cm across float in pairs along a short stem, their upper surface covered in fine hairs that keep water off. A submerged, feathery third leaf works as a root.
Keeping
Undemanding and very fast in good light and nutrient-rich water. Pale leaves signal a shortage of trace elements. The mat has to be thinned regularly: left alone it seals the surface and shades out everything below.
Placement
Surface cover for open tanks, and a way to soften harsh lighting. The trailing roots shelter fry and shrimp.
Caution
Outside its native range the species is a serious invader of still waters, and several countries regulate it. Never release surplus plants into a pond, a ditch or a drain — dry them out or compost them instead.
Fish and this plant
Water conditions match
The water suits 1033 of 1249 species in the catalogue — these are the ones people look up most often.
Swordtail GuppiesCobra GuppyBlood Red MollyButterflyfishRed Zebra CichlidJulii CorydorasFeatherfin SynodontisRed-finned ParotocinclusGastromyzon monticolaEgg-shaped GoldfishFlame TetraGardner's KillifishAfrican TetraKenyi CichlidCuckoo CatfishGolden SwordtailHypsolebias picturatusCommon ZaccoLabeo BicolorGambusiaFlying barbGastromyzon scitulusAlbino Zebra DanioGeophagus Brokopondo
Will eat this plant
These species damage plants, especially when their diet is short of vegetable food.
Bengal LoachZebra LoachBurmese Border LoachEmperor BotiaMarbled HeadstanderPellegrin's LeporinusLeporinus striatusFalse Black TetraCommon MetynnisMylossoma duriventreRed Whiptail CatfishMolly sphenopsBalloon MollyLyretail MollyMarble MollyHi-Fin PlatyHawaii PlatyBlue PlatyPintail PlatyBlack PlatyChocolate MollyMoonlight GouramiMelanotaenia parva