FAQ: Plants for fish

Many snails are useful: they eat algae, decaying leaves and leftover food, and some loosen the substrate. In a heavily fed tank, though, they multiply a lot, and their numbers are mostly controlled by how much food there is.

Labyrinth fish such as bettas or gouramis naturally live in densely vegetated waters, so plants and floating cover reduce their stress. Some males build bubble nests among floating plants.

Plastic artificial plants are stiffer, long-lasting and easy to clean, but their edges are sometimes sharp. Silk ones are softer and move more naturally in the water, so they suit long-finned fish such as bettas or fancy goldfish better.

Take the artificial plants out and scrub the algae off with a brush in warm water, without detergent or soap. Rinse them well before putting them back; heavily covered ones can be soaked as an aquarium product maker directs and then rinsed thoroughly.

Artificial plants made for aquariums are made of water-resistant materials and are safe. Avoid decorative household flowers, which can leach dye or contain wire, and check that the leaf edges are not sharp.

A simple test is to run a nylon stocking over the plant: if it snags, the plant can tear delicate fins. This matters most for bettas and other long-finned fish, for which silk plants are the better choice.

Yes, algae grow on artificial plants too, because they do not compete for nutrients. So in a tank with only artificial plants you need to clean the decor more often, limit the lighting period and change water regularly.

Over time artificial plants can fade slightly or stiffen from light and cleaning. Good-quality aquarium plants keep their colour longer, and faded or cracked ones are worth replacing.

Most artificial plants have a heavy base that can be buried in the substrate or held down with a stone. For light plants without a base, use plant weights or fix them to a decoration so they do not float.

Water turtles often eat and shred live plants, so sturdy artificial plants are more common in their tanks. Choose large plants with heavy bases that the turtle cannot tear apart and swallow small pieces of.

Some fish will lay eggs on artificial plants or spawning mops too, especially fine-leaved and soft ones. Live plants also provide microorganisms for fry to eat, so they are often more practical when raising fry.

Live plants often need fertiliser, a suitable light and sometimes CO2, while artificial ones need almost no further spending after purchase. Undemanding live plants under moderate light with occasional fertilising cost little more to keep.

Small, slow-growing plants suit a nano tank: dwarf anubias, bucephalandra, cryptocorynes, mosses, dwarf sagittaria and floating plants. Avoid large Amazon swords and fast stem plants that quickly fill the space.

Elodea, hornwort, vallisneria, some sagittaria, Java moss and marimo do well in cool water. Many tropical plants grow slowly in cool water, so choose species that tolerate cooler conditions.

Some aquarium plants such as elodea, hornwort or vallisneria can grow in a pond in the warm months. Tropical plants will not survive a Lithuanian winter, and keep non-native species from reaching natural waters.

No, aquarium plants must not be released into natural waters, because non-native species can spread and harm local nature. Give surplus plants to other aquarists or dry them and put them in compost or household waste.

In a paludarium, ordinary aquarium plants grow in the water section, while the moist land area suits anubias, bucephalandra, mosses, small ferns and other moisture-loving plants. Many aquarium epiphytes also grow well partly above water.

Anubias, Java fern, vallisneria and some cryptocorynes grow well in hard, alkaline water. Cichlids often dig, so attach plants to rocks and protect the roots of larger plants with stones.

Some houseplants, such as pothos or peace lilies, can have their roots in the aquarium water and their leaves above it. The roots absorb nitrates, but the plants themselves must not be submerged and their leaves should not fall into the water.

No, some land plants such as dracaena or certain ‘bamboos’ are sometimes sold as aquarium plants, but fully submerged they rot within weeks or months. Before buying, check that the plant really is an aquatic plant.