Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 15:04, 31 January 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Soft hornwort
Ceratophyllum submersum L.
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Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
15–30 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- background, midground, floating
- Propagation
- fragmentation, cuttings
- Uses
- spawning site
- Grows emersed
- no
In the wild
Overview
Softer and finer than Ceratophyllum demersum, this hornwort bears leaves split into many threads. The stems stay light green, while the foliage can turn orange under intense light. Rootless, it quickly forms a floating cover that can shelter fry.
- Scientific name
- Ceratophyllum submersum L.
- Classification
- Ceratophyllales › Ceratophyllaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Africa, Europe, West Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, North America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 1 countries:
An aquarium plant must never reach the wild: throwing away cuttings or emptying a tank into a stream can be enough to establish it.
Countries: Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). Dots: GBIF observations in the native countries.
In the aquarium
Growing in the aquarium
Let it float under the surface or hold the tips in the substrate. Medium light is enough; CO₂ is not essential but speeds up growth. Trim often so the vegetation does not take over the whole tank. Its delicate foliage makes it a lighter alternative to the usual hornwort.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth