Natural living plants are the best way to decorate your aquarium. Besides the great look, they also play a huge role in boosting shrimp survival rate. However, there are plants that are particularly suitable for an aquarium with shrimp because of their compliance with the requirements for water parameters and lighting.
My top 5 list of the best plants for the shrimp tank consists of:
1. Java moss
2. Anubias
3. Java Fern
4. Bucephalandra
5. Water lettuce
Bonus plant – Rotala rotundifolia (the dwarf rotala)
All of them can be recommended because they are hardy and easy to maintain. Today I will give detailed information on why you need to take a look at them if you want to choose a plant for your tank.
1. Java moss
| Common Name | Java Moss |
| Family Name | Hypnaceae |
| Difficulty | Very easy |
| Lighting | Low to medium |
| pH | 5 – 9 |
| Water hardness | Very soft – very hard |
| Temperature | 15 – 32 oC (59 – 90°F) |
| Substrate | Not needed |
| Growth Rate | Slow to Medium |
| Placement in Tank | Foreground / Midground |
| Height | 5 – 10 cm (2 – 4 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – Low |
| Propagation | Splitting, cutting off daughter plants |
Java moss is the most widespread and an absolute favorite amongst shrimp breeders. Its many benefits to your tank lead to healthy shrimp, which means more success when trying to breed shrimp.
- These plants are one of the easiest plants to grow.
- They do not need any special care. Java moss is very undemanding regarding water parameters and lighting.
- It grows relatively fast even without any fertilizer whatsoever. Therefore, shrimp breeders have one less problem. The point is that some fertilizers can contain copper which is extremely dangerous for the shrimp.
- In addition, it is possible to install java moss wherever you want. It attaches quickly to all surfaces thus, creating amazing aquascapes in the aquariums. In fact, you do not even have to plant it, if you do not want to. Basically, you can simply throw the plant into your aquarium and that is it! Tip: you can attach the plant with all sorts of things like a piece of fishing line, staples, pins, or cotton thread until it has gained a hold on the decor.
- In shrimp breeding aquariums, java moss (because of its dense structure) is an excellent hiding place for the baby shrimp and molting. You can create a green wall where your shrimp will feel safe. Tip: If you need to remove the moss from your tank, give it a really good shake because the babies can be there. We do like to hide in it.
- Another good reason to have Java moss is that it is usually in great demand by pet shops and you can sell some. So, if it starts growing too luxuriant, it can be pruned with scissors and sold to the shops.
- Java moss reduces the stress on shrimp by providing more surface area.
- Java moss is also well known as a good source of carpet coverage.
- The structure of the plan acts like a spider web, it catches all the free-floating particles. Therefore, it creates a natural feeding ground for the shrimp. They will be constantly grazing on moss.
For more information read the article “Lava Moss Care Guide – Planting, Growing, and Propagation”.
| Java moss – check out the price on Amazon |
2. Anubias
| Common Name | Anubias |
| Family Name | Araceae |
| Difficulty | very easy |
| Lighting | Low |
| pH | 5 – 8 |
| Water hardness | Soft – medium – hard |
| Temperature | 22 – 28 oC. |
| Substrate | Not needed |
| Growth Form | Stem |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Placement in Tank | Foreground / midground |
| Height | 25 – 45cm (10 – 18 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – Low |
| Propagation | Splitting, cutting off daughter plants |
Anubias is a plant that is very easy to grow. They are great both for a beginner’s and a pro’s aquarium. Anubias does not demand much attention and can be floated or attached to driftwood, decorations, etc. in any tank. Anubias are very common for growing algae on their leaves and the more algae it has the happier your shrimp are. Especially, if you have Amano shrimp, who are voracious algae eaters. So, what else is good about this plant?
- You might be surprised to know that Anubias in the shade can grow better than some plants in the full light. They are great plants, especially for low-tech tanks. That is really great because the shrimp do not need a lot of light at all. Note: Unfortunately, if you want to get more algae, you need to have lights on in the tank.
- Anubias has low demands. This plant is extremely adaptable and can tolerate nearly any water quality or environment. It does not require any CO2 supply to be robust. Some aquarists say that you cannot kill this plant unless you really go out of your way to do it.
- It is a very slow-growing plant with coarse leaves. Because of the thick structure, Anubias is relatively hard to break by accident, while doing the maintenance of the tank.
- Provides hiding places for shrimp and baby shrimp.
- In addition, the form of the leaves makes it an attractive addition to the aquariums and can also be used to catch the eye in aquascaping.
- This plant does not depend on the substrate. It can be also attached to rocks or wood.
- Anubias is not dangerous to the shrimp. I have to say it because for a long time there was a myth that the juice of Anubias (when pruned or cut) would be poisonous to shrimp and other invertebrates. Well, I did my research on this topic. You can read more about “Some Plants Can Kill Shrimp. Myth or Not?”
For more information read the article “Anubias Care Guide – Planting, Growing and Propagation”.
| Anubias – check out the price on Amazon |
3. Java Fern
| Common Name | Java Fern |
| Family Name | Polypodiaceae |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| pH | 6 – 8 |
| Water hardness | Soft – medium – hard |
| Temperature | 20 – 28 oC. (68 – 82oF) |
| Substrate | Not needed |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Placement in Tank | Midground / Background |
| Height | 15 – 35 cm (6 – 13 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – low |
| Propagation | Adventitious Plantlet/Rhizome Division |
This is another great plant if you are just starting your aquarium. Java Fern is a dream plant for you because:
- It is a hardy plant that really does not need any special conditions to help it grow. It does not require high light, good substrate, or high nutrients, which is why it is so popular in the aquarium hobby.
- This is one of the easiest plants to care for. Therefore, if you have ever had problems with growing aquarium plants, give this one a try.
- You will not worry that it can overrun your aquarium.
- Java Fern grows extremely slowly, or may not even grow at all if you bury them. Thus, you do not want to bury Java Fern, it is better to attach it to any rocks or wood.
- Java Fern has quite large and wide leaves, it is a surface for biofilm, microorganisms for your shrimp.
For more information read the article “Java Fern Care Guide – Planting, Growing and Propagation”.
| Java Fern – check out the price on Amazon |
4. Bucephalandra
| Common Name | Bucephalandra |
| Family Name | Araceae |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Lighting | Low to high |
| pH | 5 – 8 |
| Water hardness | soft – medium-hard |
| Temperature | 22 – 28 oC (72 – 84 oF) |
| Substrate | Not needed |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Placement in Tank | Foreground / midground |
| Height | 5 – 10 cm (2 – 4 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – Low |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
Bucephalandra is a fairly new species of plant to the aquarium hobby. They are pretty much like Anubius. However, what makes it so unique, is the extremely wide variety of colors it can display, as well as having many different leaf shapes as well.
- Bucephalandra is very adaptable and can grow within a wide range of parameters. They are not fussy about parameters but they want them stable. Though, in lower light setups, this plant will generally stay closer to green.
- Like many other plants, you can wedge them between rocks and decorations, or attach them to rocks or driftwood
- It can grow really well without any fertilizer.
- This plant proves a lot of surface for the biofilm, which will make you shrimp happy.
| Bucephalandra – check out the price on Amazon |
5. Water lettuce
| Common Name | Dwarf Water lettuce |
| Family Name | Araceae |
| Difficulty | Easy-medium |
| Lighting | Medium (Fast under the right lighting) |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Water hardness | Soft – medium |
| Temperature | 21 – 28 oC (71 to 82 °F ) |
| Substrate | Not needed |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Placement in Tank | Floating |
| Height | Small to very large
5 – 25 cm ( 2 – 10 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – Low |
| Propagation | Pull apart each section of the plant |
Last but not least in this list are floaters. Water lettuce (to be precise – Pistia Stratiotes) is my favorite floating plant.
- Besides being attractive and looking nice in your aquarium, Water Lettuce is absolutely wonderful for sucking up nitrates and ammonia. Frankly saying, you can get floating plants, submerged, or rooted plants as well. The main idea here is that they need to feed off of the water column for the most part. Of course, water changes are still required. Do not just add floating plants and expect them to be the only source of nitrate removal in your shrimp tank. However, it helps and Water lettuce is great at this job.
- Another great advantage of Water lettuce for the shrimp tank is that its complex root system works excellent with powder shrimp food like Bacter AE. The long roots provide another surface for shrimp to explore and find food. This is especially important for baby shrimps. This is the place you will see a lot of baby shrimp grazing on.
- An evergreen, the long dangling roots also serve as a safe haven for adult and baby shrimp.
- It provides much-needed shade for shrimp, therefore, making them more active and less shy.
- Water lettuce is very easy to care for, just keep them on water and they will grow.
The only downside of Water lettuce is that it can completely cover the top of the tank, blocking all the light for any other plants below. It would be a good idea to remove some plants during tank maintenance anyway.
Tip: If you have a hang-on-back filter and a small tank, Water lettuce can be pushed around the tank by the current. The solution to this problem is simple – create a “roped off area” for the plant by using clear air tubing strung across the top of the aquarium.
| Dwarf Water lettuce – check out the price on Amazon |
Bonus plant – Rotala rotundifolia (the dwarf rotala)
| Common Name | Rotála rotundifólia (The dwarf rotala) |
| Family Name | Lythraceae |
| Difficulty | very easy |
| Lighting | Medium to High |
| pH | 5 – 8 |
| Water hardness | soft – medium-hard |
| Temperature | 20 – 28 oC (68-82oF) |
| Substrate | Soil, sand, gravel |
| Growth Form | Stem |
| Growth Rate | medium – Fast |
| Placement in Tank | Midground / Background |
| Height | 5 – 25 cm (2 – 10 inches) |
| CO2 | Not needed – Low |
| Propagation | Head Cuttings |
Actually, it is also one of my favorite plants. The only reason why it is not in the Top 5 because it is a rooted plant and requires a special aquarium set up for that.
This beautiful aquarium plant is one of the best choices for almost any aquarium for lots of reasons but mostly because:
- It is a very tough plant. It can survive cycling. The point is that a lot of people prefer ADA Amazonia soil as a substrate in their tanks and as we know, ADA Amazonia leaches a lot of ammonia (from 4 to 8 ppm). Unlike some of the more sensitive plants, which cannot handle that level of ammonia and start “melting”, Rotala rotundifolia is doing absolutely OK. Therefore, you can add them during or at the beginning of the cycle.
- It does not grow too fast and that is why it will not overcrowd the tank.
- The beautiful long leaves create a lot of surfaces, which is a very important factor in shrimp breeding.
- Another huge advantage of the Rotala rotundifolia is that its roots prevent anaerobic pockets in the substrate (hydrogen sulfide gas or (H2S). Which is highly toxic in the aquarium.
- It grows really nicely in the tanks and looks very cool. Without pruning, the plant will take a bushy appearance which is suitable for shrimp breeding tanks. Rotala rotundifolia seems to be just right for the shrimp tanks.
| Rotála rotundifólia – check out the price on Amazon |
Conclusion
All in all a mix of these easy-to-grow plants will help beginner aquarists develop a long-lasting ecosystem.
All of these plants will benefit in baby shrimp survival rates. They will provide great refuge for young shrimp and also increases the surface area in which shrimp can graze. In addition, on top of the many benefits, they are extremely easy to keep and propagate without all of the hassles of constant maintenance that comes with high-tech planted tanks.