Live Plants for Fish Aquariums

Live aquarium plants can make for happy fish. When properly cared for, a tank sporting live plant life can closely mimic the natural habitat of the fish. Some live plants are even edible for herbivorous fish and provide extra food. Live plants can be difficult to care for, requiring light and a nutrient-rich base in which to root. Beginners may choose to avoid live plants until they are comfortable caring for their fish.

  1. Sword Plants

    • Sword plants are a good fit for those who are newcomers to using live plants in a fish tank. Many variations of these plants, such as the melon sword, will survive in hard water and do not require much light to grow. There are several varieties of sword plants, all of which are hardy and grow relatively quickly. Some have smooth, oval green leaves, while others resemble grass with long, thin stalks. The melon sword and the red flame sword have leaves with a reddish hue.

    Java Fern or Java Moss

    • The java fern is a resilient live plant that requires low maintenance. This plant comes from southeast Asia and requires little light to grow. The leaves of the java fern vary quite a bit in appearance. Some are shorter plants with rounder, waxy leaves. Other varieties more resemble house ferns, with long, tapered or jagged leaves. Java moss is also called willow moss and comes from the same region of Asia. This moss provides the thick cover in the tank that so many types of fish like to hide inside.

    Cabomba

    • The leaves of the cabomba plant are shaped like a fan, and this plant provides a serene background decoration in the tank. The long leaves tend to sway in the water of the tank. This plant does require some light to thrive, and different varieties of it respond faster to light and require less than others. With proper light this plant is easy to care for and will thrive. The cabomba grows quickly, sometimes sprouting an inch per day.

    Anubias

    • The anubias plant hails originally from the tropic regions of Central Africa. These plants have bright green, oval leaves. Anubias are hardy and require low light, even thriving best in shaded tank areas. Anubias are often found connected to rocks or driftwood in a tank environment. This keeps the plant anchored until its roots take hold in the sand. Certain types of anubias, such as the anubias frazeri, will spread their roots throughout the tank's sand and will actually sprout new plants.

    Ludwigia

    • The ludwigia is a tall, colorful plant that adds some variety to all the green of the other tank plants. The ludwigia either has broad, round leaves or thin, fern-like stems. The plant's base is green, but the leaves range in color from pink to orange to different shades of red. These plants are beautiful, but not the best choice for live plant beginners. Ludwigia is a delicate, soft water plant and most varieties require a great deal of light. Some varieties also need CO2 injections to keep their leaves from turning green.