If you are looking for the best live plants for guppies then you are at the right.
In this blog post, I am going to show you the best plants that can that you can keep in your guppy fish aquarium.
I have categorized these plants into two categories:
- Best plants for guppy fry– these plants are good if you are breeding your guppy fish as it will provide lots of hiding places for guppy fry.
- Best floating plants for guppies– these are the floating plants that you can keep in your guppy fish aquarium.
Before diving into the list, let’s first clear out some common questions.
Do guppies need live plants?
It is not a must to have live plants in a guppy aquarium.
But there are lots of benefits of keeping live plants in not only guppy aquarium but any aquarium.
Live plants help to emulate the natural habitat of guppy fish.
It also helps to improve water quality.
If you are trying to breed guppies then live plants do provide shelter and hiding place places for fry.
Do guppies eat aquarium plants?
No, guppies don’t eat aquarium plants.
Though some people have noticed guppies sometimes nibble on the plants.
Still, any aquatic plant can survive there nibbling.
So you don’t need to worry that guppies will consume the plants completely.
Do guppies like heavily planted tanks?
Yes, guppies like to be in a heavily planted tanks.
Just make sure that you are keeping the plants through which they can swim around.
Heavily planted tanks also promote breeding and it provides a lot of hiding places for fry.
Is duckweed good for guppies?
Yes, you can keep duckweed in a guppy fish aquarium.
Duckweed is a floating plant so it will provide good hiding places for guppy fry.
Best Live Plants For Guppies
1. Guppy Grass (My pick)
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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 is my pick among the best live plants for guppies.
There are several reasons behind it.
First of all, guppy grass gets its name because it is very famous among guppy breeders as it provides a lot of hiding places for guppy fry.
Secondly, it is very easy to care for a fast-growing plant.
Also, it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
So if you are a beginner and confused about which plant you should keep in your guppy aquarium then I highly recommend you to start with this plant.
Guppy grass also helps to maintain good water quality by removing harmful toxins like ammonia, nitrate, nitrites and other heavy metals.
It is also a very good oxygenating plant.
How much light does it require?
Guppy grass can do well in moderate lighting.
You should provide it at least 3-4 watts per gallon light.
What the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
You can plant guppy grass in any substrate in your aquarium.
Or you can just let it float in your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate for guppy grass.
You can use either sand or gravel as a substrate for this plant.
For faster growth, you can use a nutrient-rich substrate.
Ideal water parameters
As mentioned earlier, guppy grass can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of guppy grass is from 50 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6 to 7 and the hardness tolerance range is from 2 to 25 dKH.
Fertilization requirements
For proper and faster growth of guppy grass, you should supplement it with some liquid fertilizers.
You should add these fertilizers after the weekly water change.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check Out My 6 Tips to Take Care of Live Plants in Aquarium (For Beginners)
Best Plants for Guppy Fry
2. Green Foxtail
| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Green Foxtail |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Myriophyllum Pinnatum |
| FAMILY | Halorhagaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 72-82° F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 24 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Green foxtail is a fast-growing, tall plant that can grow as tall as 24 inches.
This plant is very easy to care for which makes it ideal for beginners.
If you provide it with the ideal environment then it can grow as fast as one inch per week.
How much light does it require?
Green foxtail doesn’t require a lot of light.
It can do well in moderate lighting conditions.
If it gets very low light then it will grow slowly.
Ideally, you should provide medium lighting of at least 2 to 3 watts per gallon.
You can use any light for this plant but full-spectrum aquarium lights are recommended.
Checkout our lighting recommendation
What’s the best place to keep it in the aquarium?
There are two options when it comes to Green foxtail for keeping it in your aquarium.
You can either plant it in the substrate or you can just let it float in your aquarium.
Substrate requirements
You can use gravel or soil as a substrate for green foxtail.
It will also benefit from a nutrient-rich substrate.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of green foxtail is from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.5 to 7.5.
And hardness tolerance is between 3-8KH.
Fertilization requirements
Fertilizers are not necessary for green foxtail.
But you can supplement it with some fertilizers to speed up its growth.
3. 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 a very popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is very easy to care for and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
This is a fast-growing plant and it provides a lot of hiding place and protection to the guppy fry.
It is also a very good oxygenating plant and it improves the overall water quality of the aquarium.
How much light does it require?
Java Moss is very undemanding when it comes to light.
This plant can grow in almost any lighting condition.
You can keep this plant in very low light or you can keep it in very highlighting condition as well.
Though you will notice some difference according to different lighting condition it is kept in.
When you keep it in low lighting condition it will grow darker and lankier.
On the other hand, when you keep it in high lighting conditions, it will grow denser.
When you keep this plant in high lighting condition it can also promote algae growth.
So ideally, you should keep it in moderate light.
That will help it grow fast as well as it will not cause any algae growth on this plant.
How to keep Java Moss in an aquarium?
There are several ways you can keep Java Moss in your aquarium depending on the aesthetic look you are looking for.
The simplest way is to just let it float in your aquarium.
You can also tie it to any ornament like rock or driftwood to keep it in one place in your aquarium
You can also use it as a carpet plant.
Ideal water parameters
Java Moss can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of Java Moss is from 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 5 to 8.
And you should keep it in soft water.
Substrate requirements
Java moss doesn’t have real roots.
So you can keep it in an aquarium which doesn’t even have any substrate by attaching it to any ornament like in driftwood or rock.
Also, as mentioned earlier, you can just let it float in your aquarium.
Or you can use it as a carpet plant.
Fertilization requirements
Java Moss is a very hardy plant and can do well without any fertilizers.
But to speed up its growth you can supplement it with some fertilizers.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
Check Out My 20 Tips to Maintain a Healthy Aquarium
4. Java Fern
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Java Fern |
| COMMON NAMES | Java Fern |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Microsorum pteropus |
| FAMILY | Polypodiaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Low to Moderate |
| TEMPERATURE | 68-82oF |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | 60-160 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Mid to Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 13.5 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 5 Gallons |
Java fern is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.
This plant is very easy to care for and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
This plant is very hardy and is widely available in almost every aquarium shop.
Also, this plant is relatively cheap.
When you keep multiple Java ferns close to each other in your tank it will create very good hiding place for guppy fry.
How much light does it require?
You should keep Java fern in low to moderate lighting conditions.
This plant cannot tolerate high lighting conditions and will turn brown and transparent when you keep it under strong lighting.
So ideally, you should provide it 1.5-2 watts of light per gallon.
What’s the best place to keep Java fern in an aquarium?
Java fern doesn’t grow very quickly but it can grow very large and wide.
So ideally, you should keep it in the middle of your aquarium if you have a small to medium size aquarium
Or you can also keep it as a background plant if you have a large aquarium.
To create hiding places for guppy fry you should plant multiple Java ferns close to each other.
Substrate requirements
This plant actually lacks any true roots instead it has rhizomes.
So, this plant can grow without any substrate.
Also, Java fern is a water column feeder i.e. it gets nutrients through its leaves.
You can just let it float in your aquarium, though this is not a very common practice with this plant.
Or you can also attach it to any ornament like driftwood or rock and it will define fine.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Java fern is from 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance ranges from 3 to 8 KH.
Fertilization requirements
You can supplement Java fern with some fertilizers to speed up its growth.
As Java fern is a water column feeder, you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers.
You should add these fertilizers after the weekly water changes.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
5. 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 also a very popular aquarium plant and it is widely available in most aquarium shops.
It is a fast-growing stem plant that can grow as long as 10 feet.
It is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
This plant can tolerate temperature as low as 59 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can easily keep it in a cold water aquarium.
Hornwort can grow very quickly and can provide a lot of hiding places for guppy fry.
How much light does it require?
When it comes to lighting for hornwort, the more the light it gets the faster it grows.
But high lighting can also cause algae growth.
So, you should provide it moderate lighting for its proper and fast growth.
Substrate requirements
Hornwort doesn’t really require a substrate to grow.
Actually, it doesn’t have any true roots but you can use its leaves to anchor it into the substrate.
You can use any substitute for planting it in your aquarium.
You can also just let it float in your aquarium.
How to keep hornwort in an aquarium?
Hornwort is a tall stem plant that can grow as tall as 10 feet so you should keep it as a background plant in an aquarium.
You can also just let it float in your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
Hornwort can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of hornwort is from 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance ranges from 5 to 15 dGH.
Fertilization requirements
Hornwort doesn’t require fertilizer for its growth.
This plant comes with allelopathic abilities that allow it to release certain chemicals that block the growth of other plants in its surroundings so that it can get all the available nutrients.
So if you have other plants in your aquarium then you should add some fertilizers so that there will be e no shortage of nutrients in your aquarium.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
Plants Help to Lower Ammonia in an Aquarium
6. 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 spirit is a tall plant that can grow as tall as 13 inches.
This is a pretty hardy plant and it is very easy to maintain which makes it ideal for beginners.
This plant creates a lot of hiding places in the aquarium for guppy fry.
How much light does water Sprite require?
Water Sprite doesn’t require very strong light.
You should provide low to moderate light for the proper growth of this plant.
Ideally, you should provide 2-3 watts per gallon of light to this plant.
What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?
You can either plant Water Sprite in a substrate of your aquarium or you can just let it float in your aquarium.
As Water Sprite is a tall plant that can grow up to 13 inches, if you have small to medium size aquarium then you can keep it in the middle ground of your aquarium.
If you have a large tank then you can keep it in the background of your aquarium.
Substrate requirements.
Water Sprite is a very hardy plant and it can do well in any substrate.
You can use gravel or sand as a substrate for this plant.
If you keep it in a nutrient-rich substrate then it can help for faster growth of this plant, though it is not necessary.
One thing you should keep in mind that when you plant it in a substrate the substrate should be at least 2 to 3 inches thick.
Fertilization requirements
Water Sprite can do well without any fertilizers.
But to speed up its growth you can supplement it with some fertilizers.
If you are planting it in a substrate then you can use both root tabs and liquid fertilizers for it.
If you let it flow in your aquarium then you should supplement it with some liquid fertilizers.
You should add these fertilizers after weekly water changes.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Water Sprite is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is between 6.0-7.5 and the hardness should be between 3 to 8 KH.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
7. Anacharis
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Anacharis |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Elodea |
| FAMILY | Hydrocharitaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 60-82° F |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| HARDNESS | KH 3-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Background |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 6 to 8 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Anacharis is a well-known plant in the aquarium hobby.
It is a fast-growing stem plant that can grow as tall as 8 inches.
This plant is very easy to maintain and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.
This plant can be kept at low temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit so you can easily keep it in a cold water aquarium.
When you plant multiple anacharis plants close to each other, it creates lots of hiding places for guppy fry.
How much light does it require?
Ideally, you should provide moderate lighting conditions for the proper growth of anacharis.
If it gets low light then it can die.
On the other hand, if it gates very strong light then it can cause algae growth on this plant.
So ideally, you should provide 2 watts of light per gallon for this plant.
What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?
You can plant anacharis in the substrate of your aquarium or you can also let it float in your aquarium.
Some people have noticed that it grows faster when you keep it floating in the aquarium as it will get more light than when it is planted.
Though you can also speed up its growth when it is planted by planting it in a nutrient-rich substrate.
Substrate requirements
You can use any substrate for anacharis weather that is sand or gravel.
To speed up its growth rate you can plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate.
Ideal water parameters
As mentioned earlier, anacharis can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of this plant is from 60 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is from 6.5 to 7.5 and the hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.
Fertilization requirements
If you have a cold water aquarium then you don’t really need to add any fertilizers for anacharis.
But if you have a tropical fish aquarium then you should supplement it with some substrate fertilizers like root tabs.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
Plants help to Increase Oxygen in an Aquarium
Floating Aquarium Plants for Guppies
8. Duckweed
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Duckweed |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Lemnoideae |
| FAMILY | Araceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to high |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 42.8 to 91.4° F |
| pH | 5.0 to 9.0 |
| WATER HARDNESS | 17 to 180 ppm |
| PLACEMENT | Floating |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | Each ‘pod’ is 0.8 inches long |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 2 gallons |
Duckweed is a fast-growing floating aquarium plant.
This is very easy to maintain plant which makes it a good option for beginners.
People have mixed opinions about this plant.
Some people consider it a rampant pest.
On the other hand, this plant does have some benefit if you keep its growth under control.
This plant can grow very quickly so you should keep an eye on it and regularly trim it.
If maintained well, this plant can work as a very good water purifier for your aquarium.
It is also very easy to maintain
As it grows very quickly, it will provide a lot of hiding places for guppy fry.
How much light does it require?
This plant requires high lighting conditions for its fast growth.
Usually, lighting will not be an issue as it is a floating plant.
You can use any artificial LED lighting for this plant.
How to keep duckweed in an aquarium?
Duckweed is a floating plant so you should just let it float on the surface of the water of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
Duckweed can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as 42 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
Its pH tolerance range is from 5 to 9.
Fertilization requirements
Duckweed can do well without any fertilizers.
But it can benefit from some liquid fertilizers.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
9. Red Root Floater
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Red Root Floater |
| COMMON NAMES | Red Root Floater |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Phyllanthus fluitans |
| FAMILY | Phyllanthaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Low to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 70° - 82° F |
| pH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| PLACEMENT | Floating |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Red root floater is native to South America and it is now reported spreading in Florida.
Red root floater is easy to maintain and a fast-growing floating aquarium plant.
This plant do well in low water flow aquariums and it can not tolerate a high level of surface agitation.
This is a very good oxygenating plant and it propagates very quickly.
This plant is ideal for open-top aquariums because it does not do well in too much humidity or moisture.
Humidity and moisture can rot this plant.
How much light does it require?
Red root floater can do well in almost any lighting condition.
It provides red coloration on its leaves when it is kept under high lighting conditions.
It also has red roots that will float inside the aquarium that can maintain its coloration in any lighting condition.
How to keep it in an aquarium?
Red root floater as the name suggests is a floating plant so you should just let it float on the surface of the water of your aquarium.
Ideal water parameters
The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Red root floater is from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and the pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.5.
Fertilization requirements
Red root floaters does not require any additional CO2 supplementation for its red coloration.
But it will benefit from regular supplementation of liquid fertilizers.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
Plants Help to Lower Temperature in an Aquarium
10. Salvinia Natans
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| PARAMETERS | VALUES |
|---|---|
| PLANT | Salvinia Natans |
| COMMON NAMES | Floating Moss, Floating Fern, Floating Watermoss, Water Butterfly Moss |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Salvinia Natans |
| FAMILY | Salviniaceae |
| CARE LEVEL | Easy |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENT | Moderate to High |
| GROWTH RATE | Fast |
| TEMPERATURE | 54 – 86° F |
| pH | 6-8 |
| PLACEMENT | Floating |
| MAXIMUM SIZE | 2-3 inches |
| MINIMUM TANK SIZE | 10 gallon |
Salvinia natans is a fast-growing floating plant.
It is also known as floating watermoss, water butterfly, floating fern or floating moss.
This plant is very easy to care for and it can tolerate a wide range of water parameters
This plant can tolerate temperature as low as 54 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can easily keep it in a cold water aquarium.
This plant also help to remove toxic heavy metals from the water. So it will work as a very good water purifier for your aquarium and improve water quality.
How much light does it require?
Salvinia natans require good lighting for its fast growth.
You should provide moderate to high light to this plant.
You should use a strong LED for this plant.
How to keep it in an aquarium?
Salvinia natans is a floating plant so you should keep it on the surface of the water of your aquarium.
This plant will provide a lot of hiding places for the guppy fry.
Ideal water parameters
As mentioned earlier, Salvinia natans can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.
That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of this plant is between 54-86 degree Fahrenheit.
The pH tolerance range is between 6 to 8.
Fertilization requirements
As with all aquatic plants, Salvinia natans can benefit from regular dozing of liquid fertilizers.
You should add these fertilizers after the weekly water changes.
Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here
Conclusion
So these are the best live plants for guppies.
I hope you found this article helpful
If you do, please share it.
Let me know if you have any doubts in the comments below.
Also, let me know if you have any other plant suggestions in the comments below.
Happy fishkeeping!
