What Kinds of Plants Are Good for Goldfish?

Banana Plant

• This semi-tropical plant, also called Nymphoides aquatica, actually looks like a miniature cluster of green bananas with heart-shaped leaves emanating upward. They are apparently hard to find in the United States, though they can be ordered online for delivery by parcel or mail. The stems reach upward until the leaves rest on the water surface. These are not messy plants, and goldfish like sheltering under the umbrella-like leaves to rest.

Elodea

• Elodea is sometimes called anacharis. It is a bottom-rooter that sends long, singular stems upward that bear slender, pine-like leaves thickly around the whole stem, giving each stem the appearance of a green bottle-brush. These plants consume a lot of waste material from the aquarium and pond, which the plant uses as nutrients. Sometimes called ̶0;goldfish greens,̶1; elodea is a healthy grazing food for goldfish. Elodea is easy to propagate from cuttings, and it grows fast.

Mayaca

• Mayaca fluviatilis is found growing wild all over the Southeastern United States and through most of Central and South America. It will flourish by simply dropping it in the tank, and it will grow very rapidly, often requiring it to be culled at each aquarium cleaning. Fish graze on it, and it provides cover; but the special thing about mayaca is that it will tell you if your aquarium is iron deficient. Its spiky green leaves, not dissimilar from the elodea, will begin turning white if there is insufficient iron in the habitat. Bright green mayaca is usually a good indicator of a healthy environment for your goldfish.

Hornwort

• The fastest-growing forage plant for your goldfish is hornwort. Usually fern-like in appearance, this is also a non-rooter. Drop it in the water, and it starts eating up waste products immediately to sustain its phenomenal growth rate. Fish like it in their diets, and it gives them plenty of hideouts to rest. These need to come out every few days and have the dead leaves pulled off, because they can accumulate and give you problems with the filter.

Frog's Bit

• For a quick grower that controls algae in the tank and gives goldfish plenty of structure and shade, consider frog's bit. Frog's bit is a round to heart-shaped leaf on a single stalk, that roots in the bottom of the tank and sends the stem reaching for the surface, where the leaf will stop. Frog's bit is attractive in the tank, and it produces a small white flower. Frog's bit will propagate itself.

Java Fern

• Goldfish will eat many of their plants, which is fine, but you will also want some structure plants that the goldfish can enjoy without forcing you to replace them. Java fern, which is a rooted aquatic plant that has spearhead leaves, is one the goldfish will shelter in without eating it. It is amphibious, so don't worry if the leaves extend out of the water a bit. If the leaves take on a brown hue and get spots, that means they are making baby Java ferns.

Water Wisteria

• Water wisteria is a good plant for a new tank, because it grows easily. It has bright green arugula-like leaves that form "caves." If your tank has mixed-sized fish, water wisteria gives the little ones plenty of hiding places where they can thrive until they are big enough to quit tempting the other fish to eat them. Many aquarium owners call water wisteria their favorite plant. The goldfish haven't said much, but they seem to like hanging out in them.