Plants for fry cover

[mathman]

Where I live it seems the only plants I can find are the tall thin variety. What are the names of some leafy plants suitable for fry cover? Can I order them on line? Can anyone help? I have many preggy fishies and am tired of watching them turn to food!

 

[Mollymomma]

Hi

I'm new to this fishy world and have only fake plants... in my tank I have these dense short thing's that were called fry cover have no clue what they are representing in a real plant but you could find them at lps.
I want to eventually get real plants too...

You may want to post this in the plants section where it may get more response or even ask Bradley(member here) he has given me a ton of advice and he's a great guy

 

[William]

For newly hatched fry java moss is ideal as they can hide in it. For long straggly plants you can try elodea densa which is very common and very fast growing.

*Edit* I have just seen you said not long plants!! I've moved the topic to the plants forum where you'll get a lot more response

 

[StiX]

Hi MrBink, There are a couple of mail order places, u can try Java or Greenline (if u are in UK that is....)

Out of the 2, I find greenline to be the best

A really great plant which is fast growing and can be planted or rooted is indian fern (also called water sprite)

-HTH

 

[Great Lakes]

T believe that once you have a tank well planted witha good variety, it greatly improves the frys odds at longevity. The are good hiders given adequte cover.

 

[EddieW]

Hi MrBink,

I use Hydrocotyle Leucocephala as a floating plant for fry cover. It is fast growing and tolerant of most conditions - I have had to transfer half of mine from one tank to another as it grows so quickly. The roots hang down and provide shelter for really small fry and the leaves form a medium dense mass which larger fry can hide away in.

Cheers, Eddie

 

[cichlid_freak]

I would think that you are looking for an Anubias (broad leaf). Anubias nana is a good, dense growing plant. It doesn't require much light or care. This plant grows on a "tuber" and can be manipulated to grow up decorations, around other plants, or just any way you want it. Nana is one of the only Anubias that don't outgrow 55 gal. tanks. It is safe in my 10 gal. and I use it in the foreground for now, until it get a little bigger. My shrimp and Khuli Loach love hiding in it. I would assum that this would be great for a large number of fry to hide and keep away from things as small as guppies.

 

[mathman]

Wow, Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I didn't know there was a plant section lol. I should look around here more!

I did get some breeder grass (artificial) from Wal Mart but it is only about 3 inches square. And some more artificial stuff from a local (what they call) pet store. Whoa is me with no decent fish places around.

As you may have noticed from my measurments I am not in the UK.


Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[wuvmybetta]

Hi MrBink
I recently bought some red foxtail from a lady on Ebay ,it's absolutely beautiful and looks just like it's name and makes excellent fry cover because it's super soft and has millions of small~thin hair like leaves so the fry can get deep into it by the stem of the plants.
Not that I've had fry yet mind you
I have quite a few livebearers in my tank so surely someone will give some up soon
But back to the foxtail , not sure where your from but her prices are reasonable and they arrived in terrific condition

 

[mathman]

I am from California up by the Oregon Border at the base of Mount Shasta. YOu can go to mtshastalive.com to find out more about the country I live in.

I will check e-bay thanks.

 

[elgecko]

Another plant that work well is Hornwort. It reaches the top of the water and spreads like crazy.

 

[sten]

You might try Aquabotanic from Salem, OR or Aquarium Plant of South Dakota

 

[mathman]

Thanks Sten, I will check them out! By the way WELCOME to the Forum!