The Water Sprite, also known as the Indian Fern, is a great plant to use as a mid-ground plant and also as a floating plant. The delicate, lacy leaves also make great cover for fry to hide among. Due to its poor root system, the Water Sprite retrieves nutrients from the water.
The Water Sprite will grow profusely under the correct conditions, and for this reason, is excellent at removing unwanted and unhealthy inorganic nutrients from the aquarium water. In smaller aquariums with open tops, the Water Sprite can grow out of the tank and form beautiful surface leaves. The delicately branched leaves are very decorative and provide good contrast to other leaf shapes.
The Water Sprite makes a great starter plant for the aquarist new to plant keeping. Propagation is by adventitious plants from the tips of the leaves. Because of this, they are extremely easy to reproduce.
The Water Sprite is a favorite snack for many species of snails. To protect the plant and to control snail populations, consider adding snail eating loaches, such as clown loaches to the aquarium.
Approximate Shipping Size: Potted. 5" to 8"
Testimonial By:
Testimonial:
Adrienne W Mesa, AZ
I originally had this in my smaller tank but it wasn't doing very well so I moved it to my 55 gallon tank that has a substrate meant for planted aquariums and also better lighting and it not only recovered but is now huge. I have to trim it occasionally to keep it from covering the top of the tank.
Most of my fish seem to like hanging out around this plant.
I bought one Water Sprite plant for my new five gallon hexagon tank about two weeks ago. I now have many, many more. The original plant is almost doubled in size! The old growth is rather curly, but the new growth is straight, elegant, and antler-like. My female Betta rests in the leaves, and my Tetras hide in them when the Betta gets moody. I'd recommend it for anyone who needs something that grows fast and still looks nice.
