Water sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroides
PlantsFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Maximum size
- 40 cm
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Light
- Medium
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
Care at a glance
Water sprite is a fast-growing aquatic fern with deeply cut, light green leaves that you can either plant in the substrate or let float. Floating it grows fastest, forming a light-dimming canopy that young fish like to shelter under.
Its propagation is remarkable: small plantlets appear on older leaves, detach by themselves and grow on. Because of its pace it takes up a lot of nutrients, which makes it a good ally against algae in a new tank.
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.