Plants for Betta Fish:

Betta fish are commonly the kind of happy and cheerful fish. They thrive in habitats with large pools of water, rich with vegetation. Their ideal home would be the size of a paddy field filled with water and a wide variety of aquarium plants for bettas, usually kind of soft and cushion-like plants. Even though they are very cheerful and energetic, they often need more of these plants to hide and rest behind. Betta fish require lots of space, and enjoy large pools with warm water. Temperatures below 65 F can be lethal to them, whilst temperatures of 85 F are considered an average, and this fish seem to prefer these water conditions. This fish can be widely found in southeast Asia.

With that being said, you should definitely check our article about best fish tanks for betta fish.

The general misconception about betta is that they can survive in a vase. The fact is betta fish can survive in low pools of water by breathing from the air, and yet they only usually do it in circumstances when their survival depends on it. A large number of fish stores, however, capitalize on the fact that betta fish can breathe from the air, by tricking some people and customers into buying more betta fish claiming they don’t need much care or aquarium maintenance. Living in inadequate habitats, like some small bowls, can prove depressing to betta fish, which can lead to sickness and premature death. Spacious betta fish tanks with plants undoubtedly are the best for betta fish. Apart from the plants, having tank mates proves as a really good choice in making the tank a good place for bettas.

Live vs. Fake Plants:

As evidenced by the former explanation, the betta fish plants for tank are essential for betta fish’s well being. Having a larger number of plants can really add to an overall mood and their happiness level, while in contrast, having them in some empty aquarium or a bowl would not prove as a good practice, possibly leading to more increase in their stress level, which can then lead to fin biting and other health issues. Betta fish tank plants help in replicating their natural habitat, they come in two varieties, and both live and fake plants benefit fish’s mental health. However, both fake plants and live plants need your care equally. The decision to get live or fake tank plants falls completely on you. You can choose either of those for your fish tank once you’re more familiar with advantages or disadvantages of both of those types below.

Live plants:

Live plants for betta tanks are real plants that grow in the soil at the bottom of your aquarium. You need to have them set up and look after them. Basically, you have to grow them in such a way so they provide an attractive look and ambiance to the aquarium or tank. Having live plants can make your aquarium and tank look more like a canvas of a river-forest ecosystem. Not only betta fish tanks with live plants look more cool, but betta fish live plants are a better choice, too.

Pros:

Cons:

Fake Plants:

Fake betta tank plants come ready-made and are generally good looking in most cases. They are usually  manufactured from plastic and silk. Latter is preferred because it provides both smoothness and comfort, and has life-like movement. Plastic fake plants on the other hand contain sharp edges and can cause damage to the betta fish’s delicate fins, so it’s really important to choose amongst ones which don’t have rugged surfaces and edges. There are also vast color choices you can pick from so you can make the tank and aquarium look great.

Pros:

Cons:

Best Live Plants for Bettas:

We’ve already covered why betta fish plants in tank are essential. What follows is a list of our bettas fish tank live plants’ list based on numerous factors and options such as oxygenation benefits, ease of handling, appearance and ambiance they create. And since betta fish love hiding and resting, we also included plants for your betta fish with hiding and resting areas. Most of these tank plants are well suited to the betta fish environment and are abundant in betta fish natural home. Plants with best compatibility with water conditions PH levels are primarily chosen. The best live plants for betta fish tank in this section are non-toxic and are quite friendly to the betta fish’s skin and fins. To make our selection broader and wider, we include both submersible and semi-submersible options for the selections. Filled with various types of plants, ranging from those for beginners, to those which should be only handled by experts, our list has them all, making it possibly the best betta plants selection. Afterall betta fish and plants go well together, and we provide the best option for your betta tanks at one place.

Amazon Frogbit

Amazon frogbit is a plant that spreads and grows at a certain rate along the surface. IT has large roots enabling betta fish to rest and nest round them. It is a floating aquatic plant, and belongs to Hydrocharitaceae family. It requires a decent amount of nutrition, and is a good choice for live plant for betta.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • This tank plant is easy to weed and handle.
  • It has huge roots which provide a good place for your betta and other fish to rest and play around.
Cons
  • This tank plant has short growth time. You’d have to weed it out quite frequently.
  • This aquarium plant does not let light pass beneath its layer. You cannot grow any other submersible plants underneath an Amazon frogbit.

User Tips

English: Amazon Frogbit

Latin: Limnobium Laevigatum

Care Difficulty: very easy

Light requirement: low-high

Amazon Sword

Amazon sword is a kind of broad-leaved aquarium plant. Those broad leaves serve as a resting place for the betta fish. Amazon sword can grow up to 3 feet in height, depending upon the species. It belongs to Alismataceae family and are notorious for their almost absurd growth levels. Amazon sword is considered one of the best aquarium plants for betta.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Amazon sword’s leaves are quite welcoming and comfortable for all kinds of aquatic life.
  • They are completely submerged in most cases, and are  often widely used in betta tank.
Cons
  • They require unique care and the roots should be deep enough to keep the plant in the hold.
  • They are very nutrition-reliant. You need to take good care of them so they can grow and stay healthy.

User Tips:

English: Amazon Sword

Latin: Echinodorus family

Care Difficulty: easy to moderate

Light requirement: High

Anacharis

Anacharis is a fast-growing and bright green aquarium plant, which is often used in betta tanks primarily because of its ability to filter toxins. Anacharis belongs to the Hydrocharitaceae family, and is also known for blocking out rivers and streams with it’s insane growth levels. Anacharis is considered  one of the best tank and aquarium plants for betta.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • This plant provides very high ability of toxin filtration, keeping your tank and aquarium safe and your betta fish healthy.
  • Anacharis can be either planted or left floating. They do not need so much nutrition and can survive for days.
Cons
  • Anacharis can choke your tank and aquarium if left unweeded. You have to weed them out regularly.
  • The leaves of Anacharis often attract various tank mates due to their softness.

User Tips

English: Anacharis

Latin: Elodea Canadensis

Care Difficulty: Very easy

Light requirement: Moderate-High

Anubias Barteri

Anubias Barteri is an underwater type of plant for betta that grows slowly but constantly. It belongs to Araceae family, originates from west Africa. This plant grows well when fully submerged and it needs low light, but it doesn’t prevent algae growth. It’s usually used in betta fish tanks due to its low requirements. It has similarities with betta plant Anubias Nana.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • The plant needs very little nutrition and light to grow.
  • The plant's leaves are broad and thick, providing the betta and other fish a good place to rest and hide.
Cons
  • Since this plant does not consume much nutrients, it allows for an extensive growth of algae.
  • It can grow as tall as 18-24’’, making it unsuitable for small betta fish tanks.

User Tips

English: Anubias Barteri

Latin: Anubias Barteri

Care Difficulty: Very easy

Light requirements: Low-medium

Aponogueton Ulvaceus

Aponogueton Ulvaceus is an African alternative to the Amazon sword. It belongs to the Aponogetonaceae family. This plant is known for its long, thin and twisted leaves. With high intensity, they can turn reddish from the usual pale green. It falls in the group of plants usually considered one of the best for betta.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • This tank plant for betta is very easy to handle and take care of.
  • The long and tapered leaves make a good place for bettas to make nests.
Cons
  • Depending on the origin, some of them can go dormant for months during winter.
  • No floating leaves are formed under any conditions.

User Tips

English: Aponogeton Ulvaceus

Latin: Aponogeton Ulvaceus

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirements: Low-medium

Banana Plant

The Banana Plant gets its name from the shape of its roots, which are, as name implies,  banana-shaped and clustered together. It belongs to Menyanthaceae family, and is most commonly found in the calm and slow-moving rivers and lakes. The thick roots act as natural storage for nutrients through sub-optimal conditions. This betta fish plant is probably one of the best and most sustainable.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • This tank plant can survive with very little amounts of nutrition, making it an ideal choice for your tank or aquarium.
  • The leaves of these plants resemble a lily at the surface of the aquarium.
Cons
  • It cannot be grown as a rooted or floating plant.
  • The leaves can shade other plants.

User Tips

English: Banana Plant, Banana Lily, Big floating heart plant

Latin: Nymphoides Aquatica

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirements: Low-medium

Christmas Moss

Christmas Moss is a species of moss, usually found in South and East Asia countries. It belongs to Hypnaceae family, and grows gradually over time eventually becoming a mini-forest. It is a type of submerged plant with its branches looking like those of a fir tree.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • They are very widely used in betta fish tanks because of their simplicity and ease of maintenance.
  • They can tolerate any kind of light levels.
  • This plant help in oxygenating the betta fish tank, improving the health of your betta fish.
Cons
  • They don’t help in filtering nitrates and other salts.

User Tips

English: Christmas Moss

Latin: Vesicularia Montagnei

Care Difficulty: very easy

Light requirements: Moderate

Cryptocoryne Parva

This is an unique plant for aquarium and tank, which requires a simple maintenance and has slow growth. It belongs to Araceae family, and its natural habitat is subtropical. It can be usually found in forests of Sri Lanka. It is a type of submerged plant, and it requires constant support to grow.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It has wide leaves that can help your betta fish rest and hide.
  • It has a decent growth and is submerged.
Cons
  • You’d have to nurture the sediment regularly to meet its nutrition requirements.
  • It doesn’t filter toxins, despite being a live tank plant.

User Tips

English: Cryptocoryne Parva

Latin: Cryptocoryne Parva

Care Difficulty: Medium

Light requirements: High

Cryptocoryne Wendtii

The Wendtii as a species of herbs that grow in slow, shady and calm waters and lakes. It is native to Sri Lanka, and belongs to Araceae family. It is one of the most robust and adapting cryptocoryne species.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • The tank plant is quite undemanding, and can pretty much adjust to any kind of environment.
  • This plant oxygenates the water and filters the toxins to provide better water quality for your betta.
  • They can grow to a maximum height of 6-8 inches, making them very suitable for aquariums and tanks.
Cons
  • This plant have very slow growth. It takes them months to get to their maximum height.

User Tips

English: Wendt’s water trumpet

Latin: Cryptocoryne Wendtii

Care Difficulty: Very easy

Light requirements: Low light

Duckweed

Duckweed is actually an apt name for this tank plant, since it chokes the entire available area within days. Although it provides safety to your betta and other surface-dwelling fish when it’s floating just beneath the surface of the water, It pretty much soaks all the light passing through. It is often considered one of the best plants for betta fish and other fish, and its similar to the betta plant Anubias Nana.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It requires no attention whatsoever for the growth.
  • It grows extensively, making the roots and stems great places for the betta fish to rest and nest.
Cons
  • It needs a very large amount of nutrients. It is going to take most of the nutrients from your substrate, leaving almost none for others.
  • It overshades the whole surface without letting almost any light pass through.

User Tips

English: Duckweed, water lentils, water lenses

Latin: Lemnoideae

Care Difficulty: very easy

Light requirements: moderate

Hornwort

Hornwort are a group of bryophytes. They belong to the Ceratophyllaceae family. It often a great choice for an aquarium since it can survive almost any conditions. This tender plants can be planted or left floating on the surface. Hornwort is similar to the other betta fish plants.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Hornwort can filter very high levels of toxins from the water, making the tank and aquarium water almost free of toxins.
  • Hornwort needs very little care and nutrition.
Cons
  • Hornwort is very, very delicate. You need to take care, as this makes it tough for weeding and maintaining.
  • Hornwort has very slow growth.

User Tips

English: Hornwort

Latin: Ceratophyllum demersum

Care Difficulty: Moderate

Light requirements: Low-Moderate

Hygrophila

Hygrophila is a weed native to the Indian subcontinent. It is said that the seeds of this tank plant are used in medications in India. It belongs to Acanthaceae family. It grows rather rapidly and has a good oxygenation potential. In aquascaping it is usually placed at the back of the tank or aquarium for better look.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It provides good oxygenation to the tank and aquarium and its broad leaves serve as good resting places for the betta fish.
  • It can be a very good choice for aquascaping your tank or aquarium.
Cons
  • It can grow up to 28’’ tall and is not recommended for small betta tank.
  • It grows very fast, using up all the space, light, and nutrients available for itself, leaving none for other plants.

User Tips

English: dwarf Hygrophilia, Indian waterweed, dwarf hygro, Miramar weed,

Latin: Hygrophila Polysperma

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirements: Moderate-High

Java fern

Java ferns are a slow-growing plant species. It belongs to the Polypodiaceae family. It is commonly found in Java, hence the name Java fern. It is relatively undemanding and easy to maintain. It can be a good choice for betta tanks.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Java fern is very easy to handle.
  • Java fern provides oxygenation and filter toxins from the water.
  • Java fern has a very small growth rate.
Cons
  • Java fern is prone to snails and other aquatic animals.

User Tips

English: Java fern

Latin: Leptochilus Pteropus or Microsorum Pteropus

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirement: Low

Java moss

Java moss is a moss, which belongs to Hypnaceae family. This is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium choices as well as a good plant for beginners. Java moss has an abundant growth and has less nutritional and lighting requirements. The ease of handling and good aquascaping properties makes Java moss betta fish plant one of the best to choose from.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Java moss does not need much nutrition and light to grow properly.
  • The moss’s tangled growth makes it a very good exploration site for the betta fish
Cons
  • It has a very high growth rate and can choke your tank and aquarium if not weede in timely manner.
  • Java moss has fewer filtration capabilities.

User Tips

English: Java Moss

Latin: Taxiphyllum Barbieri

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirements: Low light

Marimo Moss Balls

Marimo Moss Balls are an algae, cooped up into a spherical shape by the everlasting currents in the areas of Japan and northern Europe. Marimo moss balls belong to the Pithophoraceae family. Marimo moss is one of the most suitable plants for betta fish bowl and one the best for betta fish.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Moss balls can survive either without any light or with low light levels.
  • They do not need any nutrition and maintenance.
Cons
  • They do not add any value to the water or the surroundings.
  • They produce very little amounts of oxygen which barely oxygenate the tank.

User Tips

English: Marimo moss balls, Cladophora balls, lake balls

Latin: Aegagropila linnaei

Care Difficulty: Very easy

Light requirements: Very low

Marsilea Minuta

Marsilea Minuta is a species of aquatic fern. It belongs to the Marsileaceae family. It can be a really good choice due to its ease of care. It can grow in lakes, oceans, ponds, freshwater habitats, tanks and aquariums. It can be weedy.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It is very easy to maintain and handle.
  • It provides great levels of oxygenation to the water body.
Cons
  • It can be weedy. It can occupy large areas with a high growth rate.
  • It needs nutrients and light for proper growth.

User Tips

English: Dwarf water clover, airy pepperwort, gelid waterklawer

Latin: Marsilea Minuta

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirement: High

Pennywort

Pennyworth is a common name given to several different plants around the world with round and green leaves. THe Brazilian pennywort belongs to the Apiaceae family. It has very good growth rate and is generally considered one of the best plants for betta fish. It can thrive underwater, on the surface and even above the surface. They find their way to the top, in search of better light.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It is a very undemanding and fast-growing plant.
  • It can cover the surface, providing hiding places for your betta.
  • It can oxygenate the tank.
Cons
  • It can choke your aquarium and tanks and should be weeded out regularly.

User Tips

English: Brazilian pennywort

Latin: Hydrocotyle Leucocephala

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirements: Moderate-High

Pogostemon Helferi

Pogostemon Helferi is an aquatic plant that can be found in the Thailand-Burma border. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The Pogostemon species are widely cultivated and used in making perfumes, and the Helferi also has a good scent. It grows to a maximum of 5 to 10 cm tall and wide.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It is very small and is easy to handle.
  • It provides a good scent and oxygenation to the tank and aquarium.
Cons
  • It needs high light levels and nutrients to grow up strong and healthy.
  • It cannot compete with other dominant plants for nutrients.

User Tips

English: Dowoni

Latin:  Pogostemon helferi

Care Difficulty: Moderate

Light requirement: Moderate-High

Pygmy Chain Sword Plant

The Pygmy Chain Sword plant is a native of the United States from the state of Texas and its surroundings. It belongs to the Alismataceae family. It grows lean and thin right from the sprouting. The stem is thin, erect and can be 3-20 cm long. It is considered one of the best plants for betta fish.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It doesn’t need much maintenance and is easy to handle.
  • It provides good nesting spaces for betta fish.
Cons
  • It doesn’t provide much oxygenation and can grow a lot under the right conditions.
  • It requires high levels of nutrition and light.

User Tips

English: Pygmy Chain Sword

Latin: Helanthium Tenellum

Care Difficulty: Moderate

Light requirements: High

Vallisneria

Vallisneria is a genius freshwater aquatic plant named after Antonio Vallesneri. It is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of most continents. It is an underwater plant spread by runners and it forms long meadows under the right circumstances. It belongs to Hydrocharitaceae family.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It provides a great backdrop for your aquarium and tanks.
  • It has rapid growth and needs pruning.
Cons
  • It needs light and nutrients to grow and stay healthy.
  • It is a very good host of betta fish eggs in most cases.

User Tips

English: Eelgrass, tape grass, Vallis

Latin: Vallisneria family

Care Difficulty: Easy

Light requirement: High

Water Sprite

Water Sprite is a fern. It belongs to the Pteridaceae family It is widely found in the pen-tropical region. It is cooked and eaten in Madagascar and other countries, even though it is believed to be carcinogenic. It can be used as a floating plant and can be rooted as a substrate. It is one of the best plants for your bettas.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Its roots provide shelter to shy betta fish such as betta, making it a very good choice for best betta fish aquariums.
  • It grows at a very fast pace, thereby posing a threat of choking the aquarium.
Cons
  • It grabs all the nutrients giving no scope for algae growth.
  • It can cover the surface completely, leaving no light for the plant’s underneath.

User Tips

English: Water sprite, Indian fern, water fern, oriental water fern, and water horn fern

Latin: Ceratopteris thalictroides

Care difficulty: Easy to care

Light requirement: Moderate

Water Wisteria

Water Wisteria is an aquatic plant that belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It is widely found in the Indian subcontinent and its neighboring countries. It shows heterophylly, and grows to a height of 20-50 cm and 15-25 cm in width. It is one of the best plants for the siamese fight fish.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It can thrive even in low lights.
  • It can be easily propagated through cuttings.
Cons
  • It can grow far too tall for small aquariums and tanks.
  • Its growth rate is huge and needs regular trimming.

User Tips

English: Water Wisteria

Latin: Hygrophila difformis

Care Difficulty: Easy to care

Light requirement:  Moderate

Bamboo for Bettas

The bamboo plant is an underwater aquatic plant that grows to a maximum height of 15 cm, with very high growth rate. It belongs to the Hydrocharitaceae family. It is native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Madagascar, Australia, and Africa. It grows more in shallow lakes and ponds.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It has short stems, usually 3cm long, and needs very small amounts of nutrition.
  • It has a very fast growth rate, but it cannot choke the aquarium.
  • It needs less light and prefers shadowed areas.
Cons
  • It has abnormally long and slim leaves with a maximum length of 60 cm. It can lead to space issues in the aquarium and tanks.

User Tips

English: Bamboo plant

Latin: Blyxa Aubertii

Care Difficulty: Moderate

Light requirements: High

Lighting requirement for plants

Most of the betta fish tank live plants require lighting for survival and growth, and there are all kinds of plants in our betta plants list that require all levels of light. IF you decide to get live plants, you need good lighting system for your plants.Getting an UV light can be very helpful. Choosing among right options for the intensity of the bulb depends on the requirements of your live betta fish plant. This can both cut some of your electricity cost and can save all your bettas from becoming stressed, since constant exposure to light can do that to your betta fish. Their health should be considered in choosing your light setup. Best betta fish plants can survive in low light. For more information about lights and other things consider linking to amazon com or visit wikipedia.

Final Thoughts

Choosing your best live plants for betta fish can be really complex decision since it needs o be in synergy and can impact overall equilibrium of aquarium ecosystem greatly. If you’re getting plants such as Duckweed that shut out light, you can balance it out with Marimo moss ball or Bamboo plant beneath to synergize the system. Most plants are easy to care for and come in wide variety of colors. Choose among best live plants options for betta fish to your liking and pair them accordingly to their properties and requirements to make some of the best possible environment for the betta fish. Our list has all the best betta fish plants. Anubias Nana is not included in our selection. As a beginner, you can always choose some of the simplest ones included in our selection. You can also find many items and related video on amazon.com. Choose the best unique option for your betta tank. For more information about the price and other things about the plants try linking to amazon com.

 

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