When it comes to deciding how to set up your tank, choosing what plants to have is one decision you would want to take at the early stage of having your Betta fish. As a Betta fish owner, you need to choose whether you want them to be real or fake plants. In addition to this, if you’re a beginner, you need to pick the plants that you can manage properly. You need not worry about all of these. In this piece, we will be discussing 12 best plants for Betta fish both live and fake options.
Best Plants For Betta Fish In A Flash
2. Java Fern
3. Anubias Nana
4. Java Moss.
5. Pennywort.
6. Hygrophila
7. Wisteria
8. SunGrow Beautiful Plastic Aquarium Plant.
10.Marina Ecoscaper Hydrocotyle Silk Plant.
11. Zoo Med Laboratories AZMBL20 Betta Hammock.
12. Marina Natural Silk Red Plant.
Do Betta Fish Love Plants?
Before thinking about whether or not you should get a plant in your tank, you might be wondering if your Betta fish love plants in the first place. The simple answer to that is a big yes! Here are some reasons why Betta fish love plants:
· Plants Make The Tank Feel More Natural
Betta fish natural habitat is often filled with plants. In fact, plants provide relief by acting as a form of shield and shade from the sun. This is why having a plant in your tank makes the fish feel at home. You also feel less stressed when there are plants in the tank.
· Plants Act As A Hiding Place
We all know the nature of a Betta fish. They feel safer when they have a place to hide. Even though having them in a tank there’s a form of protection, that is just protection from the outside world, what happens when there is another aggressive Betta fish in the tank? It is important to have plants in the tank, you might be saving a life with it. Plants must be placed in a tank, especially if your Betta fish has tank mates. You should also try caves too. If you don’t have enough hiding places in the tank, bettas may jump out of the water.
· It is a form of entertainment.
Betta fish get bored easily period to keep your Betta fish entertained, you need to place plants in their tank. This will give your betta lots of space and room to explore. The tank will also feel lively when there are plants in it. You don’t want to imagine how a tank with no decoration would be for your Betta fish.
We must explain the benefits of having plants in the tank before going ahead to review the 12 best plants for Betta fish.
Should I Use Live Or Fake Plants?
When it comes to picking plants, the first thing you need to think about is whether or not you would opt-in for fake or live plants. This section is not meant to paint either of the two in a bad light. In fact, both options are great for your tank. At the end of it all, what really matters is what you want, and what would make your tank look more attractive. However, having live plants in your tank instead of fake plants, often makes your tank easier to maintain. This doesn’t necessarily mean that fake plants aren’t easier to maintain. Maybe the pros and cons of both would shed more light on how important both are. So, let us take a look at some of the pros and cons of live and fake plants.
The Pros And Cons Of Live Plants
As we all know, live plants are more natural. Giving your tank a realistic feel. But just like fake plants, they do have their pros and cons.
The Pros.
- During the daytime, plants produce more oxygen and they tend to absorb more CO2. Even though this is not as important for your Betta fish who’s capable of breathing normal air from the surface, this doesn’t take anything away from its importance. The bacteria responsible for breaking ammonia down into nitrates require oxygen to do so. This means the more oxygen in the tank, the more efficient it’s going to be at breaking down the ammonia into nitrates.
- If you are battling algae related issues in your Betta fish tank, then live plants will be the best solution for that. All algae are mostly caused by excess nitrate in the tank. When you have more bacteria in the tank, there is going to be less nitrate for algae to feed on. Also, the plants will help to use the most of it.
- Speaking of bacterial, they are beneficial bacteria that grow on the live plants in the tank. When you have more beneficial bacteria in the tank, it helps break down ammonia quickly.
- Live plants tend to recreate the Betta fish natural environment when compared to fake plants. You can make your betta feel at home by using live plants.
The Cons.
- Plants don’t stop growing. This will require more work on your part. You need to make sure that the plants don’t outgrow the tank. Even though your Betta fish will love swimming in a tank filled with plants, it is still important to ensure that he has enough room to swim freely. If the plants get out of control, your Betta fish may struggle to get to the surface for air.
- Live plants require more work than fake plants. You will need to learn how to take care of your plant and ensure that the water conditions, as well as the lighting, are perfect for your fish.
- The live plants tend to add more decaying matter in the tank. Just like every other plant. Some parts of the plants in the aquarium will start to fall off.
- If you do not maintain the proper growth of the plants then the decay will eventually cause bacteria to grow in your tank. You can deal with this by vacuuming your gravel regularly and removing the excess plants.
- If you’re going to keep plants in your Betta fish tank, then some of them will need strong lighting to thrive. This means you’ll have to pay more attention to the type of plants you purchase.
- Even though live plants create oxygen and the day, they use most of it at night. Having too many live plants in your tank will lead to a reduction of oxygen in the tank. This can be fixed by adding some air stones into your tank during night time.
The Pros and Cons Of Fake Plants
You need to understand the pros and cons of fake plants. Even though they are not as good as live plants in some aspect they tend to make up for it in all the ways.
The Pros
- One of the biggest benefits of having plants in your tank is that it requires next to no maintenance. Unlike live plants, you need not worry about feeding the tank with excess lighting and cutting off excess parts.
- Fake plants always look nice in a fish tank. This is way better than what you have with the live plants which often become tattered and decay. Not saying that fake plants don’t decay but it will take much longer for the fake plant to decay.
- Fake plants don’t require lighting or any water conditions. this doesn’t mean that your water conditions shouldn’t be kept steady for your Betta fish. Unlike live plants, you won’t have to worry about any special requirements.
- Lastly, they are easy to remove and clean. When you start seeing the buildup of algae and grime in your Betta fish tank, all you need to do is take them out, scrub them and put them back into the tank.
The Cons
- Fake plants are more dangerous for your Betta. You need to watch out for the plastic ones. When plants with sharp edges are added to your tank, they can be harmful to the betta. When putting a plant in a tank, you need to make sure that the edges are not sharp or too rough. To avoid injuring your Betta fish and making it susceptible to diseases and illness, you should avoid the plastic plants.
- Fake plants tend to make your tank feel more unnatural. Even though your betta isn’t going to mind as a perfectionist you may be better off with live plants.
- Fake plants absorb CO2 and release oxygen into the tank. In this case, you will need an air filter to keep the current on the surface at an optimal level, or use an air bubbler.
The 7 Best Live Plants For Betta Fish
1. Marimo Moss balls
Undoubtedly, one of the best options for those looking to add a unique touch to their Betta fish tanks.
These unique spherical balls are a type of algae that live on lake beds in northern Europe and Japan, where you have slow current continually shaping them into spiracle forms. This type of live plant prefers cooler aquariums. Your tank has to be unheated for it to thrive.
2. Java Fern
Java ferns are extremely good to grow in your betta fish tank as they also do well in low lighting. They are capable of growing for months with low lighting. They also thrive in a room with natural light. However, you have to be very careful when planting java ferns. If you bury the rhizome, the entire plant will die. The best way to grow java fern is by stringing them to driftwood, rocks or attaching them with rubber bands, or an anchor point.
They are also pretty slow growers, so, you won’t need to worry about the plants outgrowing your tank or trimming them back to shape every few days like you would have to with aggressive growers. Interestingly, java ferns reproduce by creating little ferns along with its old leaves. These little ferns can be plucked off and attached to hard parts in your tank where they’ll eventually grow.
3. Anubias Nana
Ever heard of the plant? Well if you are searching for the right plant for your betta fish tank, the Anubias Nana should top your list for many reasons. The plant has broad and wide leaves. Since bettas perch on plant leaves when they want to sleep or conserve their energy, Anubias Nana is perfect for that.
Also, Anubias Nanas are small and very easy to maintain. They are small enough to fit in any tank that is over 2 gallons. They don’t need intensive lighting and fertilizer to grow. Their leaves taste bad to all creatures. You can attach them to rocks and driftwood and can also be rooted in substrates. It’s not only a great plant for bettas but it is also one of the best plants that can thrive in tanks with low light. Lastly, they are notoriously slow growers. Even though they may seem like a great plant at first, but at the end of the day, slow-growing plants make tank cleaning and maintenance a very easy thing to do.
4. Java Moss
Speaking of popular tank live plants, the Java Moss remains one of the best out there. Being one of the best freshwater aquarium plants is a big deal. This plant is easy to care for, hardy and are very appealing. Overall, it’s a perfect beginner plant for newbies.
They don’t require intense light setup to grow healthy. They aren’t the type of plant that needs to be rooted in the substrate; this makes it a popular option among betta keepers. All you have to do is attach it to driftwood, and let it carpet the base of your fish tank. Or you can simply let it float on the surface. It doesn’t matter where you keep it, it’s an easy-to-grow plant. They are great plants for betta tanks.
Java Moss creates densely and an untidy of growth that bettas and any other tank fish will love to explore. The downside to this plant is that it needs to be maintained regularly as they tend to get everywhere. Other moss species such as Christmas moss are slow-growing plant but they are often easy to keep clean.
5. Pennywort.
If you are looking for a versatile plant, then Pennywort is what you need. This is a plant that is capable of growing under or above the tank surface. It can be cared for easily and require very low lighting; no wonder it’s a popular choice for betta keepers. If you want, you can also grab a bite as the plant is eatable for humans, with its spicy notes that taste like black pepper. Pennywort is one of the 12 best plants for Betta fish live on our list.
They naturally gravitate to the surface of the tank as they grow an inch very week to absorb light, where it finally creates a great cover for bettas. That said, the plant tends to cover the surface of the tank quickly, this is why you must trim it regularly to ensure that the surface of the tank is not choked up. A smothered tank surface can be dangerous for bettas.
6. Hygrophila
Hygrophilia is a plant with broadleaf which is popular among lovers of planted tanks. The plant’s large leaves provide a resting spot and hideout for betta fish. These are some of the reasons why its an important option for all betta keepers out there. It is undoubtedly one of the 12 best plants for betta fish live options.
Hygrophila can grow up to 28 inches tall, so you’ll need a 20-gallon tank if you choose to get this plant. They tend to grow quickly and can outgrow smaller tanks in no time. They will thrive in low lights but will ultimately take on an ugly look which will make the tank look unappealing. To keep it looking it’s very best always, you need to provide high light levels especially when they are in deep tanks.
At the end of it all, the Hygrophila plant is a great choice for fish keepers who wish to give their betta a little more space to explore. They come in red leafed forms if you are looking to create an extraordinary scenery in your fish tank.
7. Wisteria
Speaking of the best plants for betta fish, the Wisteria ranks high on that list. It is a popular fish tank plant that is able to thrive in a low light environment. It has a unique appearance and colorful leaf patterns which will help you give any betta tank the fresh look it deserves. They can be grown to inform of carpeting foreground plant. It is grown as a single plant. The plant also changes shape; a unique feature that is determined by how its planted.
A free-growing plant can be very large, so this may not be the choice for small tanks. As long as it is regularly trimmed, there shouldn’t be any problem. To grow this plant, you need a 10-gallon tank. It remains one of the best on our list of the best plants for betta fish.
5 Best Fake Plants for betta fish.
Our list of 12 best plants for betta fish won’t be complete without adding at least 5 best fake plants. Just as we’ve said earlier, there are few reasons why you might need to add fake plants to your tank. They will definitely last forever and tend to be a safer time-wise as well as help to decorate their tank.
1. SunGrow Beautiful Plastic Aquarium Plant.
When it comes to fake plants, there isn’t much to look at. But this doesn’t in any way reduce the importance of a fake plant. One of such plants is the SunGrow Beautiful Plastic Aquarium Plant. It has shiny leaves that tend to look like real plants. This will help to enhance the overall health of your betta fish. This plant can be used in any tank size, lighting, or temperature. Your betta can play and explore around the leaves. They (the leaves) are flexible and will always look fresh and bright all the time since they don’t need light to grow.
2. Betta Plant Amazon Sword.
One of the best plants for betta fish is the Betta plant Amazon sword. It is a fake plant that stands up on its own. It has thick leaves that look lifelike and can help fill out the tank efficiently.
The betta plant Amazon Sword has a weighted rock which helps the plastic plant stand firmly while in the tank. A betta in a tank that has this plant will be at home far from home. It has colors that can stay for a very long time. also, they don’t need special care as a natural plant would require.
3. Marina Ecoscaper Hydrocotyle Silk Plant.
Marina Ecoscaper Hydrocotyle Silk Plant is made from natural material. It has a healthy feel with its bright color. These colors are natural and translucent. One other benefit of the plant is that it is made to flow in the water more like a real plant. When you have a fake plant in a tank, you don’t necessarily have to monitor the CO2 level in the tank.
4. Zoo Med Laboratories AZMBL20 Betta Hammock.
The Zoo Med Laboratories AZMBL20 Betta Hammock definitely fits in the list of our 12 best plants for betta fish or fake options. All you have to do with this tank is that you simply attach to the side of your tank near the surface and watch as your betta makes the best use of it. Betta fish loves it and uses it as a sleeping bed. The Zoo Med is one of the 12 best plants for Betta fish.
5. Marino Natural Silk Red Plant.
For betta keepers who would love a colorful fish tank, this is one you should get. Thanks to its colorful leaves, your tank will get a facelift. You can make it the main piece of any tank. The large leaves are one of the best material and soft edges which will assure you betta’s life.
Conclusion.
There you have it, these are the 12 best plants for betta fish live or fake options. Do leave a comment in the comment section below. We’d love to know your thoughts.