Why is my Bolbitis heudelotii turning brown or black?

This is most commonly caused by burying the rhizome in the substrate, which leads to rot. It can also happen to older leaves as the plant adapts to a new environment, or if it is smothered by algae due to excessive light or poor water flow.

How do I plant an African Water Fern?

Do not bury it in gravel, sand, or soil. You must attach the creeping rhizome to a piece of driftwood or rock using superglue (cyanoacrylate), fishing line, or cotton thread until it grows its own anchoring roots.

Does Bolbitis heudelotii need CO2 to survive?

No, it is a very hardy plant that can easily survive and grow in low-tech setups without supplemental CO2. However, injecting CO2 will yield faster, more robust growth and larger fronds.

Why is my African Water Fern growing so slowly?

Bolbitis is naturally a slow-growing species. To encourage a slightly faster growth rate, ensure it is placed in an area of high water flow, maintain slightly cooler water temperatures (around 22-24°C), and provide regular liquid fertilisation.

Will my fish eat this plant?

Most fish will completely ignore it. The leaves are tough, leathery, and reportedly quite bitter, making it a safe choice for tanks with fish that might otherwise nibble on more delicate aquatic plants.

FreshwaterPlantsIntermediate

African Water Fern

Bolbitis heudelotii

African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotii) is a beautiful, slow-growing aquatic epiphyte renowned for its translucent, deeply lobed dark green leaves.

List this species for sale Find African Water Fern near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 20 – 28 °C
pH range: 5 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 12 dGH
Adult size: 15 – 40 cm
Min. volume: 20 litres+
Diet: Phototrophic
Water flow: Moderate to high

About the African Water Fern

Originating from fast-flowing, shaded rivers and streams across tropical Africa, Bolbitis heudelotii is a versatile epiphyte that anchors itself to rocks and wood rather than rooting in the substrate. Its highly textured, semi-translucent fronds add a natural, wild aesthetic to the aquarium, making it a firm favourite among aquascapers. While it is a relatively slow grower, it is remarkably robust and can adapt to a wide variety of water conditions, provided it is kept in clean, moving water.

Find African Water Fern

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check African Water Fern against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where African Water Fern comes from

Native range

West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa

Countries / regions

Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa

Habitat

Fast-flowing, shaded rivers and streams, often attached to boulders and rocks in splash zones or fully submerged.

Widely distributed across tropical and subtropical Africa.

Similar species

Java Fern
Microsorum pteropus
Anubias Nana
Anubias barteri var. nana
Water Sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroides

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Highly beneficial companions that will actively graze on and remove algae from the slow-growing fern leaves without damaging the plant itself.
Great
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Shares a similar West African riverine habitat; their peaceful nature and lack of interest in eating tough plants makes them a perfect biotope companion.
Great
Anubias
Anubias barteri
Another African epiphyte with identical care requirements, creating a cohesive, low-maintenance hardscape aesthetic.
Great
Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus
While the fern has tough leaves, voracious plant-eating fish may still nibble on new growth when hungry.
Compatible with caution
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Will uproot and potentially destroy delicate foliage, though properly secured epiphytes like the African Water Fern often survive better than most rooted plants.
Compatible with caution

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all African Water Fern listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for African Water Fern in this market yet.

Looking for African Water Fern?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search African Water Fern listings Post a wanted request