Plant Profiles

Ceratopteris pteridoides

Live freshwater plant Ceratopteris pteridoides - Floating Antler-fern for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Ceratopteris pteridoides - Floating Antler-fern. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Ceratopteris pteridoides
Floating Antler-fern
$9.95

Ceratopteris pteridoides, the Floating Antler-fern, is a unique aquatic fern that grows and looks quite different to the closely related Ceratopteris thalictroides. This fern is characterised by its large, succulent lobed leaves, which enables it to float in a similar way to Hydrocharis laevigata.

It is a popular choice among aquarists with open tanks and has relatively undemanding care requirements. This fern does well in both low and moderate lighting conditions, although providing moderate to bright light encourages healthier growth and more vibrant foliage.

Ceratopteris pteridoides develops thick, spongy leaves on an inflated stalk, which allow it to float on the water's surface. The plant propagates easily, producing numerous adventitious plantlets on older floating leaves.

Ceratopteris pteridoides particularly thrives in aquariums with ample water column nutrients and good lighting. The temperature range for its optimal growth lies between approximately 18 and 35°C. It is a good indicator plant for nutrient deficiencies, with the leaves growing pale when there are insufficient nutrients.

This fern has the potential to grow rapidly under favourable conditions, with the flat leaves growing to 13cm. The large leaf rosettes can be managed by replacing them with the smaller plantlets formed on older leaves.

Ceratopteris pteridoides provides fantastic shelter for aquarium inhabitants and develops bushy roots that serve as a great refuge for shrimp. This plant makes a great addition to South America-themed biotope aquariums, complementing other floating plants such as Hydrocharis laevigata, Phyllanthus fluitans, Ludwigia sedioides, and Riccia fluitans. It is also quite a good pond plant in warm regions.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:
None

Water nutrients:

Med

Light demand:

Medium

CO2:

Low

Height:

Medium

Growth rate:

Vigorous

Growth habit:

Rosette

Floating

Difficulty:

Easy

Native to: