Growing Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus) In The Aquarium

This is a semi-aquatic species and it comes from tropical southern Asia. Its natural habitats are floodplains and wetlands. In aquarium it is completely submerged.

It has lanceolate, hard and green leaves with clearly visible venation. The creeping rhizome has dense and extensive root system. These roots have fine hairs.

We may plant this species in the foreground or middle of the aquarium in groups of several pieces. Then we don't cover up the rhizome with the substrate, we only cover up the roots. We also may arrange it on the porous decorative elements (root, rock, etc.).

This species doesn't need strong lighting but it prefers clean water and systematic cleaning of the substrate. Otherwise it will gradually die. There is a lot variants of this plant which differ each other shape of the leaves first of all.

In aquarium we reproduce it vegetatively - by dividing the rhizome.