Java Fern (Microsorium Pteropus)

Java Fern is one of the most popular aquarium plants. Its easy care and undemanding. Java Fern is composed of three different parts. Its roots are dark brown and stick to most substrate. Attached to a rock or a piece of driftwood, the roots will soon develop and anchor the plant. The rhizome is located between the roots and the leaves. If planted directly in a soft substrate as sand or gravel, the rhizome should not be buried as it will rot and make the plant die. A good way to grow this plant is to attach it to a piece of rock or driftwood. Use fishing line or a rubber band to secure the rhizome to rocks or driftwood. After a few months, the rubber band could be removed as the roots will have anchor themselves. Water conditions are not really important as this plant will grow in nearly any water. Can
even grow it in brackish water aquariums. Several varieties of Java Fern are known. Some are Microsorium Pteropus Tropica, Microsorium Pteropus, Microsorium Pteropus narrow leaf and Microsorium Pteropus Windelov. Java Fern is a very attractive plant, suitable for most aquariums. Its undemanding lighting levels and its easiness to care are very useful for breeding tanks. This plant does also quite good in more aggressive fish tanks. Its hardy leaves and roots make it somewhat resistant to vegetarian fish.

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Thanks Guppyguy, for the photos and info on the plants. I find them very helpful and interesting, especially if I hope to start a planted tank.

This plant successfully survives and even thrives in a goldfish tank together with anubias.

Biulu wrote:This plant successfully survives and even thrives in a goldfish tank together with anubias.

Good to know... I had thought that pretty much any plant was on the goldfish dinner menu.

Starfish wrote:Thanks Guppyguy, for the photos and info on the plants. I find them very helpful and interesting, especially if I hope to start a planted tank.

Your welcome. Just thought it be great to have some good plant information for reference on the forum.   

Biulu wrote:This plant successfully survives and even thrives in a goldfish tank together with anubias.

This is true it is a very tough plant and actually i am told it taste pretty bad to the fish too.

guppyguy wrote:

Biulu wrote:This plant successfully survives and even thrives in a goldfish tank together with anubias.

This is true it is a very tough plant and actually i am told it taste pretty bad to the fish too.

Yep, that's why it's also great in Cichlid tanks.

For some reason, this plant gives me A LOT of trouble. Turns brown and dies!
I have a lot of other plants which do better than that.

l_l_l wrote:For some reason, this plant gives me A LOT of trouble. Turns brown and dies!
I have a lot of other plants which do better than that.

Well I guess there exceptions. This plant actually can be damaged if the light is too bright. In general is a very a easy plant that requires little care.

Thing is, I have a bit less than .5W per gallon on my tank! :O
Uhhhhh

That can't be the reason; I have java fern in my Mexican tank and that doesn't have any light anymore. Just the natural light coming through the closed curtains. They don't grow fast but they don't die either.

And you don't add any ferts or anything?

No. Remember that this tank is on its own when I am not in Mexico.

Oh yaaa.
Well.
I really don't know what kills my ferns.

l_l_l wrote:Oh yaaa.
Well.
I really don't know what kills my ferns.

We all have our nemesis; maybe yours is java fern. I think that mine is java moss, can't get it to do well in my tanks.

I'm actually amazed by how good my java moss looks in my main tank - I remember in my old tank years ago it became a horrible algae filled mess. I think the shrimp keep it clean and tidy?

the main thing I have noticed with the java fern I have is that the leaves don't turn brown anymore or get holes in them now that I use fertiliser in the tanks concerned.

My new plant profile video on java fern.