What Live Plants Are Good For Betta Fish?

Live plants are a great way to keep your betta fish’s water healthier. Aquatic plants add oxygen to the water and help filter out bad stuff. They also provide hiding and resting areas for your fish. After all, many of the typical environments that wild betta fish live in naturally are rich with plant life. But it is very important to understand what live plants are good for betta fish.

How Do You Plant Live Plants In A Betta Tank?

The easiest way to plant most live plants that are good for betta fish is by anchoring them into small gravel substrate, similar to how you plant traditional plants in soil. There are substrates that you can buy that cater specifically to growing live plants. If you have a new tank, plant aquatic plants when the water is about ½ way. If your tank is already established you can plant as is or remove some of the water to make the process a bit easier. For the best viewing, plant taller plants in the back of the aquarium and shorter plants toward the front of the tank. Some plants can be gently anchored to hard-scape items with thread.

Do Bettas Like Heavily Planted Tanks?

Betta fish seem to enjoy tanks that have several live plants. You can go fairly lush with aquatic plants, but you don’t want the tank so full of plants that your fish cannot swim freely. And keep in mind that aquatic plants grow, some more than others. So have a good idea of the growth rate of your chosen plants before going too heavy-handed.

What Do Bettas Like In Their Tank?

Bettas enjoy hideouts and resting spots. These can be made with safe decor, silk plants, and live aquatic plants. There are floating logs and leaf hammocks that can be purchased as well. I have bettas that love these and others that could care less. But they are especially nice to have for aging bettas when it starts to get a bit harder to swim to the surface for air. Males often enjoy floating plants that they can utilize to blow their bubble nests. Indian Almond Leaves (dried) are a great addition to your tank as they break down naturally and provide natural tannins that can improve the health and comfort of your fish. 

13 Best Live Plants For Betta Fish

There are many live aquatic plants that are great for betta fish. Our best live plants for betta fish include: 

1. Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)
2. Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus)
3. Anacharis/water weed (Elodea)
4. Anubias (Anubias barteri)
5. Banana Plant (Nymphoides Aquatica)
6. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
7. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
8. Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana)
9. Marimo Moss Ball (Aegagropila linnaei)
10. Pennywort (Hydrocotyle leucocephala)
11. Vallisneria
12. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides)
13. Water Wisteria (Hygrophilia difformis)

What Live Plants Are Good For Betta Fish: Conclusion

Live plants are extremely beneficial for your betta and their environment. Plants help filter out ammonia and nitrate while adding oxygen to the water. So, what live plants are good for betta fish? The best aquatic plants to use in betta tanks are Amazon Frogbit, Amazon Sword, Anacharis, Anubias, Banana Plant, Hornwort, Java Fern, Java Moss, Moss Ball, Pennywort, Vallisneria, Water Sprite, and Water Wisteria. All of these low-maintenance aquatic plants are safe for betta fish and will make great additions to your fish’s environment.

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