What Plant Is This

[Seal36]

I was wondering what plants these are I got them from a fish shop and they are the only plants that have ever grown in my tank and have not been bitten to death by my fish. The green one in particular has grown really well and I don't put co2 or anything like that for the plants in my tank thanks for the help from Tom
Here is the plant forgot to attach it before

 

[daizeUK]

They look like houseplants.  I'm not an expert on houseplants but they're certainly not aquatic!

 

[Seal36]

I brought them from a fish shop and they were in their tanks and being sold as fish tank plants and do you think it's safe to leave them in there or should I take them out as I tested my water yesterday and nothing had changed water chemistry wise from Tom

 

[daizeUK]

I can't say if they're safe.  I'm amazed that anyone is selling those as aquarium plants.  There's a list of well-known terrarium plants that often get passed off as aquatic but I've never even seen these ones before.

 

[Seal36]

If they are house plants I don't think they are doing any harm to my fish or the water as in my 110 litre tank the fish ripped the plants apart and the water chemistry is fine and I have had no fish die. Also in the 40 litre tank which is the one in the picture the fish swim in and out if it with no ill affects and the plants have been in there for a week and I think if it was dangerous some affects would have been seen by now.

 

[richpowell1989]

I dont think its a good idea to keep them in your tank. I have seen the list of none aquatic plants and I aint even seen these on there. Im pretty sure these are not aquatic plants n I believe they will just die in ur tank. I cant believe the shop are even trying to pass these of as aquarium plants

 

[Seal36]

That's really strange I will remove them but they have been growing and there roots have been taking as well. It's a shame that they have to go because the kribensis love swimming in and out of them

 

[daizeUK]

A bit of googling turns up Fittonia as a possible culprit?  They have white and red veined varieties that look similar to yours.

 

[Ch4rlie]

A bit of googling turns up Fittonia as a possible culprit?  They have white and red veined varieties that look similar to yours.

 
Think daize is absolutely correct, it does seem to be Fittonia which is definitely a houseplant.
 
http/houseplants.about.com/od/More_Plant_Profiles/p/Fittonia-How-To-Grow-Fittonia-Houseplants.htm
 
I fell into this trap too when i first bought plants for my tank when I was setting up my first tank, I bought Draconias even though was in well known LFS and plants were submerged in water! 

 
I've since then took out the plants and repotted them, they are growing and doing fine!
 
The danger of leaving houseplants fully submerged, more often than not, will die within 6 months then plant roots and leaves will rot, giving the possibility of ammonia spike......
 
Best to take them out now really, am afraid, maybe you can get a refund or swap for proper aquatic plants if you ask nicely.
 
And yes, I hate when LFS do this, but this is not usually down to the LFS staff really so don't have a go at them, more like at management level or above trying to get more profits.
 
Now have learned my lesson! research, research, research before buying anything live for your tanks.
 
Best that you learned this now, a small price to pay really, as you have learned a pretty valuable lesson, do not take any of LFS advice or stocking at face value.

 

[Seal36]

That's a shame about them being house plants and I'm surprised that they have been growing so well in my tank. I am surprised that they sold me a house plant as a aquatic plant especially as I know the owner of the shop very well so will be having words with him. If the plant did last 6 months that would be great for me as with aquatic plants I can only get them to live a week or so. I will defiantly take them out as I have spent almost a year trying to get my kribensis to raise there eggs and don't want all that hard work to go to waste. I know nothing about aquatic plants so could you suggest some small plants that I could put in there place that don't need much maintenance thanks for all your help guys from Tom

 

[daizeUK]

I don't think the shops know what they're selling half the time.  They know that pretty, variegated and colourful plants are the best sellers and a lot of their customers will kill any plants inside of six months so it makes no difference   I once had a chat with a lovely assistant at my local Pets at Home who was really enthusiastic about aquarium plants.  Despite her obviously genuine interest she still advised me to buy a dracaena and told me that java ferns would go black and die.
 
The best low maintenance plants are usually Anubias nana, Java fern, moss and cryptocorynes.

 

[Seal36]

Thank you very much daisy and I have looked at the pictures of both of your tanks and am very jealous, what plants do you have in your tanks as they look amazing especially the island design.

 

[daizeUK]

Thanks!  I follow my own advice and stick mostly to anubias, mini java fern, moss and crypts   With some variants such as narrow leaf java fern.

 

[Seal36]

Where did you get your wood from and did you get your plants online or in shops from Tom

 

[KirkyArcher]

You can safely leave these plants within your tank, BUT.... on the 1st  signs of the plant dying off take it out which could be way beyond the quoted 6 months, (again I'll refer to my sisters experiences who still has a very healthy looking though slightly algae coated "Pets at Home" bought Dracaena that she got about a year ago in one of her tanks )
(spelling again)