Ceratopteris cornuta (Lobed Water Sprite)
Ceratopteris cornuta (Lobed Water Sprite)
One of our favorite plants! Easy, beautiful and fast growing - our Water Sprite is one of the first plants you should get if you are starting out with planted aquariums or if you don't already have one.
No CO2? No problem - this plant thrives in a huge variety of water conditions and is probably the single most suitable plant for low tech or even cold-water aquariums.
Our lobed variety is a a smaller relative of the common water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) with rounder leaves. It is an attractive aquatic fern that can be grown rooted or even floating. It is simple to care for and extremely beneficial for small aquarium fish or shrimp,
QUICK NOTES:
Difficulty: Easy, suitable for beginners
Size: Floating plants will grow 10 - 20cm in width; rooted plants may grow larger
Native Range: Southern Continents (Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Northeast India, and Northern Australia)
Position and Usage: Midground to background placement with the potential to float at the water’s surface
Growth Rate: Medium to fast
Lighting: 3/5 - 5/5
Water Conditions: Optimal water temperatures of 22 - 28°C; hard water preferred
CO2: Discouraged
Propagation: Floating plantlets can be re-planted in the substrate or left to grow independently
Special Requirements: Use extra care when handling this plant’s delicate stemsNotes and curiosities: Thought by some to be a variant of Ceratopteris thalictroides while other scholars have categorized this plant as a completely separate species due to its reproductive structures
Description
Ceratopteris Cornuta, otherwise known as the "lobed water sprite", is an adaptable plant that will adjust to the space it is given. It is a distinct and somewhat uncommon species that is related to the common water sprite (C. thalictroides). It is extremely easy to care for and makes a great first aquarium plant for the beginner. Floating specimens can grow to 20 x 20 cm across, while rooted plants may grow larger, potentially to your tank’s surface. We discourage C02 injection as this species requires trimming and can overwhelm an aquascape. Floating plantlets should be monitored as they may clog filtration systems and circulation pumps. Grounded specimens require manual rooting in a deep, dense substrate. Rooted plants develop a different, finer leaf shape and and will grow slower than their floating counterparts. Warm water temperatures will encourage fast growth, but this hardy plant is suitable for cold-water aquariums and can be kept with goldfish. Rooted specimens plants require more light than floating plants.
This is a hardy, easily cultivated species that is absolutely beautiful and and will quickly turn bare aquariums or patches into lush green forests, providing not only eye-candy but ideal shelter and comfort for animals such as shrimp or more timid fish. When happy, it reproduces abundantly via little plantlets which appear between the lobed leaves of the mother plant. Water Sprite an ideal plant for removing excess nitrate as well as ammonia and nitrite from the water and is an excellent oxygenator.
Floating specimens are recommended for breeding fish or shrimp as the roots provide hiding spots from larger tank mates and also naturally host micro-organisms that fry and shrimp thrive on.
