Tropical Ferns for Aquariums

Tropical ferns and other aquatic plants help reduce stress for aquarium fish. Reduced stress aids the fish by helping or eliminating parasite attacks, infections and other health conditions. Small fish use the plants as hiding places from large predators in the tank. Organic waste from the fish is good fertilizer for live plants, which absorb carbon dioxide while adding oxygen to the water. Aquatic plants can be long, green blades waving in the water or dark green, deeply grooved leaves.

  1. Java Fern Microsorium pteropus

    • The Java fern accepts a diversity of water circumstances, tolerates a variety of lighting conditions and grows in fresh or slightly brackish water. Fish eat many ferns in the aquarium but not the Java ferns. These ferns are easy to propagate and start small plants around the edge of the mature plant. Planted in the gravel, Java ferns flourish. Tied to wood or rock ornaments with sewing thread or light fishing line, the plants add color at different elevations.

    African Fern Bolbitis heudelotii

    • The African fern or African water fern has dark green, deeply grooved leaves and grows to 10 inches in height. This fern requires more attention to keep clean, slightly acidity water and additional carbon dioxide for robust growth. Flowing or moving water from an aquarium circulation pump is essential for healthy African ferns. By splitting the root ball into two plants, propagation of this fern is simple.

    Water Sprite or Indian Fern Ceratopteris thalictroides

    • The water sprite or Indian fern is an easy plant to grow in an aquarium. The plant does well planted or floated in clumps. It has green, lacy leaves that sway with the water motion. The plant will develop small plants or shoots that will mature into larger plants; these shoots will develop their own root system and separate themselves from the parent plant.

    Water Sprite or Lace Leaf Ceratopteris siliquosa

    • A fine-leafed water sprite is a fast-growing plant that can float or be planted in your aquarium. Plantlets form on mature floating plants and are easily removed for additional plants. These plants consume nutrients in the tank and help prevent algae.

    Windelov's Fern Microsorum pteropus

    • The Windelov's fern is a patented tropical fern and a modification of the Java fern. The plant has triple-split leaf edges, giving it a bushy appearance. This is a hardy, slow growing, easy to maintain fern. It is a smaller plant than the Java fern and easily attached with thread to decorative ornaments in the tank.