Fern Identification

[rch7279]

Edit: So, since I read all the responses that it wasn't aquatic, I took it out and potted it right away. Within a few hours, it has wilted and died. Does that mean that it really was an aquatic plant? It was so vibrant and healthy in the water, I couldn't believe after such a short time in dirt that it died.




Hello. I bought this fern for my tank at Petco. It just said 4" fern on the label, and I would like to know how to care for it. It doesn't look like any freshwater ferns that I have looked at online, so I really need assistance.

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Thank you.

 

[aaronnorth]

that is not aquatic

 

[rch7279]

Are you sure? The package said it was for terrariums or aquariums, and a sales person said it would be fine, and I have had it for 3 weeks and it seems to be doing ok. Could it be harmful to my fish?

 

[aaronnorth]

the aquatic ferns that i know of

bolbitis heudelotii
ceratopteris thalictroides (planted)
ceratoperis thalictroides (floating)
hygrophila difformis

lots of places will sell non-aquatic plants, draceana specie are commonly sold as aquatic

 

[Truck]

Bolbitis heudelotii

 

[three-fingers]

Bolbitis heudelotii

No....

Yeah, it's not one I recognise straight away either, petco have a reputation for selling non-aquatic plants, lot's of them in packages.

For example 'aqua-fern' is often sold in packets at petco, but it's a non-aquatic Selaginella species.

Most non-aquatic plants sold for aquariums do last a while under water, which is why they chose those species. Up to a few months on some cases. But they dont grow properly and usually get covered in algae within a short space of time.

 

[nosoup4you]

Not a total waste, it is a very nice looking fern. You could set up a small terrarium for it...

 

[rch7279]

I can't believe places sell that stuff if it isn't correct. What a pain. I always see them selling bamboo there also, will that live underwater well? I just don't have any true fish stores around me and am limited to petco and petsmart most of the time.

 

[Phage]

petsmart sells peace lilies as amazon swords and mondo grass as sagittaria

 

[three-fingers]

I can't believe places sell that stuff if it isn't correct. What a pain. I always see them selling bamboo there also, will that live underwater well? I just don't have any true fish stores around me and am limited to petco and petsmart most of the time.

Afraid not, it's probably actually Dracaena, a non-aquatic plant very commonly sold in many different forms at aquarium stores. Also known as lucky bamboo, though it's not actually bamboo.

You can grow it with it's roots in the water though, the leaves have to be above the surface and under a light.