Plants For Betta Tanks

[meguro]

Just wondering if any of you guys put live plants in small betta tanks around 10-15 litres (3-4 gallons). What plant species work well and how you do it? The tank I was thinking of doing this for is a little larger than 30cm (length) x 18cm (width) x 20cm (height).

Thanks.

 

[Honeythorn]

I have plants in both my 5 gallon tanks. Echinodorus moss balls and java moss mostly, with the odd cutting of hygrophillia.

If your tank is 20 cm high then you can easily have Cabomba and Elodia for background plants, java moss on wood, and if you have the right light and setup for it, a riccia carpet or dwarf hairgrass would look great. A lower light option would be a java moss carpet. And moss balls are an insanely low maintenence way to add some greenery to a tank.

 

[meguro]

What about floating/surface plants? I heard bettas prefer plants towards the top of the water.

 

[Honeythorn]

Elodia, Cabomba and Hygrophillia will grow to the top of the water and across the surface if you don't trim them.

As for actual floating plants, Frogbit and Water lettuce are good choices. So is Salvinia Natans, but if you live in the US it won't be available, as it's considered a toxic ( invasive ) plant and is banned.

 

[Amunet]

Cabomba is a really nice plant and bettas seem to just love wiggling their way through the leaves. It can get messy though if it starts to die.
Hornwort is a fast growing plant. You can either float it or plant it in the substrate.
I personally really like sword plants. You could maybe get a sword compacta in to your tank. They're still kinda big, but not as big as a regular amazon sword.

 

[silverrabbit]

My betta Kai adores the cabomba in his tank - it's the plant he uses as a perch the most. He also likes to hang out on the amazon sword in the corner (his tank is 30l half-hex) so he can get to the surface easier.

 

[loraxchick]

i have a lovely crypt in one of my tanks. my boy uses it like a lazyboy.

 

[Amunet]

Crypts are nice as well. Easy to grow and don't require high light, but be warned with them. A lot of crypts will lose their leaves if they're messed with or moved. The leaves will start to melt off and just creates a huge mess.
It will usually grow new leaves though, so don't throw it out thinking it's dead

 

[meguro]

Thank you all for the advice and information.