If you are looking for the best aquarium plants for breeding, then you are in the right place.
In this article, I am going to show you the seven best freshwater live aquarium plants ideal for breeding fish.
So without further ado, let’s dive into it.
Table of Contents
7 Best Aquarium Plants for Breeding
1. Guppy Grass
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Guppy grass |
| COMMON NAMES | Guppy grass |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Najas guadalupensis |
| FAMILY | Hydrocharitaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 50-86° F |
| pH | 6-7 |
| HARDNESS | 2-25 dKH |
| PLACEMENT | Surface, background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 3 feet |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
| PROPAGATION | Side shoots/clippings |
Guppy Grass got its name because it is very popular among Guppy breeders.
However, this plant is good for breeding any fish.
It is a fast growing aquarium plant. And it is a very good plant at removing harmful stuff from your tank like heavy metals, toxins, nitrate, ammonia, etc.
Why Guppy Grass is the best plant for breeding?
Guppy grass is a fast growing plant, and it grows pretty dense, which provides a lot of hiding places to the fish fry and the fish.
If you’re breeding egg-layers fish then once the eggs are hatched the fry are too small to eat any fish food.
So they need something very very tiny to eat.
This is infusoria comes in to play. Infusoria are basically very small organisms.
Infusoria doesn’t just magically get created in your tank. You’ll need to keep some live plants in your tank for infusoria. And Guppy grass is a great plant for this purpose.
Substrate requirement
You can use any substrate for planting Guppy grass in your tank.
You can also keep it floating in your tank.
Water conditions requirements
Guppy grass can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
It can tolerate temperature as low as 50° Fahrenheit to up to 86° Fahrenheit. So it is a very good plant to keep in cold water as well as tropical aquariums.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6-7. And the water hardness tolerance range is between 2 to 25 KH.
Light requirements
Guppy grass does well under moderate lighting conditions.
So if you are using fluorescent light then you should provide it light between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon.
Or if you are using LED light, then you should provide it light between 35 to 50 micromoles.
Fertilization requirements
For healthy growth, you should regularly supplement guppy grass with liquid fertilizers.
You should add the fertilizers after the weekly water change.
Are Aquarium Plant Fertilizers Safe For Fish? (Best fish safe fertilizers)
Best place to keep Guppy grass in your breeding tank
Guppy Grass is a fast growing plant. So in your breeding tank, you can plant it in the mid-ground or background of your tank.
You can also keep it as a floating plant in your tank.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
2. Cryptocoryne Wendtii
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Cryptocoryne Wendtii |
| COMMON NAMES | Wendt’s Cryptocoryne, water trumpet |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Cryptocoryne Wendtii |
| FAMILY | Araceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low |
| GROWTH RATE | Medium |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82° F |
| pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 6 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
Cryptocoryne wendtii is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby. It is one of the best plants for Tetras.
This is a tall-growing stem plant, and it comes with many color variations such as green, red, and brown.
And depending on the color of its leaf, its size ranges from 8 to 15 cm.
This plant is also very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners as well as experienced aquarists.
Why Cryptocoryne wendtii is the best plant for breeding?
Cryptocoryne wendtii grows pretty dense which provides a lot of hiding places to the fish as well as the fish fry.
Its leaves surface also provides a good place to lay eggs.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate for planting Cryptocoryne wendtii in your tank.
You can plant it in gravel substrate. Or you can also plant it in a soil substrate.
Cryptocoryne wendtii creates complex root structure into the substrate and it absorbs nutrients through the substrate.
So if you plant Cryptocoryne wendtii in a nutrient-rich substrate, then it will definitely benefit from it and grow faster and denser.
Water conditions requirements
The ideal temperature range for Cryptocoryne wendtii is between 72° to 82° Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 8 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
Light requirements
Cryptocoryne wendtii is not very light demanding.
You can keep it in low light as well as highlighting environment.
However, you have to provide nutrients according to the light.
For example, if you are going to provide it high light then you should also provide it nutrients through fertilizers. And it will also appreciate CO2 injection.
Fertilization requirements
For healthy, denser, and faster growth, you should regularly supplement Cryptocoryne wendtii with fertilizers.
You can supplement it with both liquid fertilizers as well as root tabs.
It will also appreciate CO2 injection though it is not absolutely necessary.
Best place to keep Cryptocoryne wendtii in your breeding tank
As mentioned earlier, Cryptocoryne wendtii comes in different varieties.
So depending on the variety and the tank size of your tank, you can keep it in the foreground, middle ground or background of your aquarium.
For example, the green variety is the shortest variety. So it is a good plant to keep in the background of smaller tanks.
The red variety grows taller so you can keep it in the background of a larger tank.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
3. Hornwort
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Hornwort |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Anthocerotophyta |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 59-86°F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 5-15 dGH |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 10 foot |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 15 gallons |
Hornwort is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby. It is one of the best oxygenating plants.
This plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters and it is very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
Why Hornwort is the best plant to keep in your breeding tank?
Hornwort is a fast growing plant, and it can create dense areas in your tank.
These areas provide excellent hiding places to the breeding fish and fish fry.
Substrate requirements
Hornwort doesn’t have real roots, so you don’t need any substrate to keep it in your aquarium.
However, you can use its leaves to anchor it into the substrate. And you can use any substrate of your choice to plant it in the tank.
You can also keep it floating in your tank.
Water conditions requirements
Hornwort can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
It can tolerate temperature as low as 59° Fahrenheit to up to 86° Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.5. And the water hardness tolerance range is between 5 to 15 GH.
Light requirements
Hornwort does well under moderate lighting conditions.
If you are using fluorescent light, then you should provide it light between 2-3 Watts per gallon.
If you are using LED light, then you should provide it light between 35 to 50 micromoles.
Fertilization requirements
Hornwort has allelopathic abilities, which basically means that it releases certain chemicals that prevent other plants in its environment to use the nutrients so it can use the nutrients for itself.
That’s why if you are going to keep Hornwort in your tank and you have other plants in your tank, you should regularly add fertilizers in your tank so that all the plants can get the nutrients.
Best place to keep Hornwort in your breeding tank
Hornwort is a tall-growing plant, and it can grow as tall as 10 feet.
So you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
4. Java Moss
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Java moss |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Vesicularia dubyana |
| FAMILY | Hypnaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Very easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to Bright |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 59-86°F |
| pH | 5.0 to 8.0 |
| HARDNESS | 60- 240 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Foreground |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 4 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
Java moss is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is very hardy, and it is very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
As it is a very popular plant, it is widely available online as well as at local fish stores.
Why Java moss is the best plant for your breeding tank?
Java moss provides excellent space for breeding fish or shrimps to lay their eggs.
And it provides excellent protection to the eggs, that’s why it is the best plant for the breeding tank.
Substrate requirements
Java moss doesn’t have any roots, so you don’t have to plant it into the substrate.
However, you can spread it across the substrate of your tank and use it as a carpet plant.
Besides, it is commonly attached to any ornament like driftwood or rock in the aquarium.
Water conditions requirements
Java moss can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
It can tolerate temperature as low as 59° Fahrenheit to up to 86° Fahrenheit. So you can keep it in tropical aquarium as well as cold water aquarium.
Its pH tolerance range is between 5 to 8 and its water hardness tolerance range is between is up to 4 dh.
Light requirements
Java moss can do well in almost any lighting condition.
However, you will notice a difference in the plant’s growth according to the light it gets.
Under low light, it will grow lankier and darker.
And under highlight, it will grow denser and compact.
Fertilization requirements
For dancer and compact growth, you can supplement Java moss with liquid fertilizers.
However, it can do just fine with no fertilizers.
Best place to keep Java moss in your breeding tank
You should attach Java moss to any ornament like driftwood or rock, then put it inside your breeding tank.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
5. Water Sprite
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Water Sprite |
| COMMON NAMES | Water Fern, Indian Fern |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Ceratopteris thalictroides |
| FAMILY | Pteridaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Medium to high |
| GROWTH RATE | Low to Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-82°F |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Mid to Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 13.5 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 Gallons |
Water Sprite is a very popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is very hardy and easy to care for, so it is a good choice for beginners.
Why Water Sprite is the best plant for your breeding tank?
Water Sprite provides a lot of cover for the fish to hide, which encourages breeding behavior. It also provides a lot of hiding places to fish fry.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate whether that is sand or gravel to plant Water Sprite in your tank.
Water conditions requirements
Water Sprite can tolerate a decent range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature range for Water Sprite is between 68°to 82° Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.5 and the water hardness range is between 3 to 8 KH.
Light requirements
You should provide at least moderate light for the proper growth of Water Sprite.
If you are using fluorescent light, then you should provide it light between 2-4 Watts per gallon.
Or if you are using LED light, then you should provide light between 35 to 50 micromoles.
Fertilization requirements
Water Sprite can do well with no additional fertilizers.
However, if you are providing it highlight or you want to encourage faster growth, then you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers.
Best place to keep Water Sprite in your breeding tank
Water Sprite is a tall-growing plant, so you should keep it in the mid-ground or background of your breeding tank.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
12 Benefits of Live Plants in an Aquarium
6. Water Wisteria
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Water wisteria |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Hygrophila difformis |
| FAMILY | Acanthaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 70-82°F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 2-8 KH |
| PLACEMENT | Background or Carpet |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 20 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallons |
Water wisteria a very hardy and undemanding plant. So it is a good choice for beginners.
It can do well in a wide range of environments.
It is very popular, so it is widely available in local fish stores and online.
Besides, you don’t need a lot of Water Wisteria plants because it is very easy to propagate.
Why Water Wisteria is the best plant for your breeding tank?
Water Wisteria grows pretty dense which creates a lot of cover for the fish and fish fry.
Substrate requirements
In its natural habitat, Water Wisteria grows in a sand substrate.
So ideally, you should plant it in a sand substrate in your aquarium.
However, you can also plant it in a fine gravel substrate.
Water condition requirements
The ideal temperature range for Water wisteria is between 72° to 82° Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.5. And its water hardness tolerance range is between 2-8 KH.
Light requirements
Water wisteria does well under moderate to high lighting environments.
So you should provide it at least moderate light of anywhere between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon if you are using fluorescent light.
Or if you are using LED light, then you should provide light between 35 to 50 micromoles.
Fertilization requirement
Water wisteria is a pretty hardy plant, and it can do well without any additional fertilization.
However, for optimum and faster growth, you should regularly supplement it with liquid fertilizers.
Best place to keep Water wisteria in your breeding tank
Water Wisteria is a fast growing plant, and it can grow pretty tall. So ideally, you should keep it in the background of your breeding tank.
Check the price of this plant at Amazon here
7. Subwassertang
Photo by Rǫgn under CC BY-SA 4.0
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Subwassertang |
| COMMON NAMES | Süsswassertang, Süßwassertang, Round Pellia, False Round Pellia |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Süsswassertang |
| FAMILY | Lomariopsidaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Slow |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-73° F |
| pH | 6-8 |
| HARDNESS | 0 - 21°dKH |
| PLACEMENT | Floating |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 gallon |
Subwassertang can tolerate a decent range of water parameters. And it is very easy to maintain, so it is a good choice for beginners.
Why Subwassertang is the best plant for your breeding tank?
Subwassertang can grow pretty large and very dense, which provides a lot of hiding places to the fish and fish fry.
It also provides suitable space for laying eggs to the fish.
Substrate requirements
Subwassertang doesn’t have any real roots, so you don’t need any substrate to plant it in your tank.
Just like Java moss, you can attach it to any ornament like driftwood or rock in your tank.
Or you can also keep it as a free floating plant.
Water conditions requirements
Subwassertang can tolerate temperature as low as 68° Fahrenheit to up to 73° Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 8 and its water hardness tolerance range is up to 4 DH.
Light requirements
Subwassertang is not a very light-demanding plant.
It can do well in low-to-moderate lighting environment.
So if you are using fluorescent light then you should provide it light anywhere between two to four Watts per gallon.
Or if you are using LED light, then you should provide it light between 15 to 50 micromoles.
Fertilization requirements
Subwassertang can do well with no additional fertilizers. However, for denser and faster growth, you should regularly supplement it with liquid fertilizers.
Best place to keep Subwassertang in your breeding tank
You can keep Subwassertang anywhere you like in your breeding tank.
It doesn’t need to be planted so you can always move it to any plant you want.
Here’s a video of beautiful breeding planted tank.
6 Tips to Take Care of Live Plants in Aquarium
Conclusion
So these are the best aquarium plants for breeding.
I hope you found this article helpful.
If you do, please share it.
As always, happy fish keeping!
