Why is my Cabomba losing its lower leaves?

This is typically caused by insufficient light reaching the bottom of the stems. Ensure your lighting is strong enough, and avoid planting the stems too closely together, which causes them to shade one another.

Do I need to plant Cabomba in the substrate?

While it does best and looks tidiest when planted in a nutrient-rich substrate, it can survive floating at the surface, though its growth pattern will be much less predictable.

Can I keep Cabomba with goldfish?

It is not recommended. Goldfish are omnivorous and love to snack on soft, feathery plants. They will likely strip your Cabomba stems bare in a very short time.

How do I propagate Green Cabomba?

Simply cut a healthy stem about 10-15 cm from the top and plant the cutting straight into the gravel or soil. It will quickly grow new roots and continue extending upwards.

FreshwaterPlantsIntermediate

Green Cabomba

Cabomba caroliniana

A fast-growing, feathery background plant that offers excellent shelter for fry and shrimp while acting as a natural water filter.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 15 – 28 °C
pH range: 6 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 12 dGH
Adult size: 30 – 80 cm
Standard aquarium: 40 litres+
Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
Diet: Photosynthesis and water column nutrients
Water flow: gentle to moderate
Preferred setup: Nutrient-rich substrate preferred, but can draw heavily from the water column.

About the Green Cabomba

Cabomba caroliniana, commonly known as Green Cabomba or Fanwort, is a hugely popular aquatic stem plant cherished for its finely divided, fan-like leaves. It thrives in well-lit aquariums, creating a dense, forest-like backdrop that brings incredible texture to a planted layout. Due to its exceptionally fast growth rate, it acts as a fantastic nutrient sponge, helping to combat algae and improve overall water quality.

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Where Green Cabomba comes from

Native range

North America, South America

Countries / regions

United States, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Habitat

Ponds, slow-moving streams, shallow lakes, and ditches.

Native to the Americas but has become a notorious invasive species in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Similar species

Red Cabomba
Cabomba furcata
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersum
Ambulia
Limnophila sessiliflora

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

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Shrimp love grazing on the biofilm that accumulates on the fine, feathery leaves of the Cabomba.
Great
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Small, peaceful fish utilise the dense foliage as cover and are completely safe with delicate plant structures.
Great
Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus
Herbivorous fish like Silver Dollars will quickly devour the soft, delicate leaves of the Cabomba.
Not recommended
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Goldfish are notorious for eating and uprooting soft-leaved plants, treating Cabomba as a salad bar.
Not recommended
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Large, boisterous cichlids will thrash and uproot delicate stem plants like Cabomba.
Not recommended

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