Java Fern
Microsorum pteropus
A tough, slow-growing epiphytic fern that attaches to wood and rock and thrives without CO2 or special lighting.
Ideal Conditions
- Temperature
- 18 – 30 °C
- pH range
- 5.5 – 8
- Hardness
- 2 – 18 dGH
- Adult size
- 15 – 35 cm
- Min. tank size
- 20 litres+
- Water flow
- Low to moderate
- Preferred setup
- Tied or glued to hardscape — never buried in substrate
About the Java Fern
Java Fern is the most forgiving aquarium plant available. It grows from a rhizome attached to hardscape rather than roots in substrate, tolerates a very wide parameter range and is left alone by almost all fish.
Find Java Fern
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Where Java Fern comes from
Native range
South East Asia
Countries / regions
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China
Habitat
Streams and waterfalls, growing attached to rocks and wood, often partly emersed.
Illustrative native range only, not an occurrence dataset.
Similar species
Anubias Nana
Anubias barteri var. nana
Bolbitis
Bolbitis heudelotii
We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.
Compatible tank mates
Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.
- Great
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Shrimp graze biofilm from the leaves without damaging this tough plant.
- Great
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Attached to hardscape, so a burrowing loach cannot uproot it.
- Not recommended
Koi
Cyprinus carpio
Large pond cyprinids uproot and eat soft aquatic plants.
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