Aquatic Plants for Fresh Water Aquariums for Platies & Guppies

Platies and guppies are part of a popular group of aquarium fish known as livebearers. The female carries fertilized eggs inside her body and when the young fish hatch, they leave her body through an abdominal opening. Platies and guppies are native to Central America and South America, though they have been introduced all over the world. Both types of fish are adaptable to many different tank conditions, but they do better in hard, alkaline water between 7 and 8 pH. Several varieties of aquarium plants grow well in this type of environment.

  1. Sword plants

    • The plants in the echinodorus family are commonly known as swordplants. These can grow large, given the proper conditions. Echinodorus bleheri, also called the Amazon sword plant, is often used as a centerpiece in an aquarium. Echinodorus tenellus, known commonly as pygmy chain sword, is a low-growing plant that can create a carpet-like effect in the tank given the right growing conditions. The dense growth of both these types creates a safe hiding place for just-born guppies and platies.

    Vallisneria

    • Also called tape grass, the plants in this family are undemanding and can grow in the hard, alkaline water preferred by platies and guppies. The plants usually have narrow leaves and like swordplants, provide a good hiding place for baby fish. Some varieties of vallisneria naturally grow leaves that are twisted into a corkscrew shape. A few plants in this family are suitable only for the largest aquariums or outdoor ponds, like vallisneria gigantea, which can develop leaves that are over 6 feet long.

    Cabomba and Ambulia

    • Cabomba, also called Carolina fanwort, needs slightly more care than other aquarium plant choices. It grows best under bright light and with carbon dioxide supplementation. Ambulia, the common name for limnophilia sessiliflora or limnophilia indica, has a similar appearance to cabomba, but needs less light. In good conditions, both plants produce delicate, fan-shaped leaves. They both can grow very quickly and may need frequent trimming, but the dense plantings form a protective environment for guppy and platy fry.

    Java Fern

    • Java Fern is an hardy plant used in many types of aquarium setups. It doesn't need the strong light that other aquarium plants demand and can grow in many types of water conditions. Java Fern can also attach itself to natural driftwood, making it easy to move around the tank. Java Fern takes up most of its nutrients through the leaves, not through a root system like other plants do, so it grows best with periodic doses of aquatic plant fertilizer added to the tank water.