clinton1621

I was recently in a Petsmart and noticed they were selling tubes of "live aquarium plants" and I just wanted to let everyone know (unless this has already been posted) that the majority of these are NOT true aquatic plants and will die if they are submerged... some of the ones included are - Aqua Fern (it isnt java fern) .... Peacock Fern (again not an aquatic fern) .... and also white ribbon or gold ribbon plants. Unfortunately I heard one of the employees there actually tell someone these would be perfect for their fish tank.... she didnt mention, too bad that they will live only a few weeks underwater and then all start to rot and pollute your water. I just wanted to let anyone interested in planted tanks know about this ahead of time and see if anyone else has seen or heard about it.

also several websites have already posted warnings about these plants

Dino

This has been going on for several years.
I believe it has been posted here several times, but thanks for the reminder.

clinton1621

I wasnt sure how long its been going on in other areas, the petsmart in my location used to have a live plant tank that had all true aquatic plants in it... they relocated recently and have now switched to these tubes with the plants in them only.... now I have to drive an hour to get any decent plants =/

Lucy

Thanks Clinton.

I was in a new Petsmart the other day and noticed them.
When I picked up the Aqua Fern, the salesman actually took it out of my hand and put it back.
He said he didn't know why they sold them, that most weren't aquatic.
I looked around to see if I was actually in a Petsmart, whadoyaknow, a knowledgeable employee.

clinton1621

I know what you mean lol, I think the "Aqua Fern" is really trying to rip people off because the latin name on it is Javanicum, which isnt Java Fern but most people probably dont know that and will assume that it is

tanker83

despite the obvious reasons of cost and extra work... is there any major problem with have plants that aren't meant for aquariums?
I put in plants that arent aquatic and as soon as they show signs of decomp. or decay i throw them out and replace them with fresh stuff.
Is this bad for my tank?

Lucy

Yep, that's exactly what I thought when I saw the latin name.
When I looked closer at it, it looked like the ferns that people grow outside.

clinton1621

Some of them could be toxic... if they arent toxic then doing what you said would be ok as long as you take them out before they start to rot... that would get pretty expensive constantly replacing them though lol, especially when there are plenty of true aquatic plants that will grow very well even in low lighted tanks and you dont have to keep replacing them

tanker83

hm. good point clinton. food for thought. thanks a bunch pal

clinton1621

No Problem

Chief_waterchanger

Glad to see everyone helping one another out. I don't have anything of substance to add to the thread, just a kudos to everyone for the teamwork.

sirdarksol

Thanks for the reminder on this. Aquatic plants are just like fish; do your research before you buy them. Plantgeek.net is an excellent source for this. If you see a plant at Petsmart or Petco and you think you want it in your tank, head home and check to see if it is right for your tank.

Red wag platy

I saw them selling mondo grass.

Dark_Rider2k3

you know what I never knew this....

and I bought something labeled as "Java Fern"..

ugh I'll have to take it out >_>

sirdarksol

Do you have any way of telling if it is Java Fern? Go to Plantgeek.net, take a look at the pics of Java Fern there and compare them with what you have. Petsmart and Petco do sell Java Fern sometimes, too.

Alessa

I saw... (and I really had no clue) some bulbs that claimed to grow underwater, in both petsmart and petco. What really made me think about it is that it said: "water onion" and I never heard of that before... hmmm.. are these true aquatic bulbs?

mathas

There is such a thing as an aquatic onion plant, Crinum thaianum.

Whether that's what they were selling or not, I couldn't say, but it does exist!

Dark_Rider2k3

it somewhat looks like it.

I'll get some pics of mine in a sec to show you.. it's dying real quick though =/

Amanda

I was going to go buy some plants for my divided 10 gal. for my betta boys. Good thing I didn't end up buying any. I would have been angry if they had died a week after I bought them. The larger ones are up there in price too.

sirdarksol

Alessa, I have dwarf aquatic onion. It's doing well. As Mathas said, who knows if that's what they were selling.

Darkrider, we would be happy to take a look at the pics and see if they look like Java Fern.

MissMTS

Java Fern is typically a very hardy plant and should not be dying quickly. Are you adding any plant food supliments to the tank?

Dark_Rider2k3

None at all... (i'm guessing that is bad =/)

Though I have Java Moss and Hornwort that are growing ridiculously fast.

I'll have the pics in a sec.. thanks everyone!!

Angela_96

Thanks for the post, luckily when I saw them at our petsmart I walked on by... I have a problem w/ live plants from there, the last time I got some out of one of their tanks I ended up w/ a pond snail explosion.... I have also learned what planeria is from plants from stores

clinton1621

The one that Petsmart is selling that IS NOT java fern is labeled as "aqua fern", it looks like an outdoor type fern with dark green "leaves" that resemble pine bush needles... real java fern has long light to medium green solid leaves, there is a variant with what looks like "lettuce" growing at the top of the leaves as well but the main leaves still look the same

Dark_Rider2k3

THAT'S IT!!!!!

I dont' even need to send pictures now as that was the most accurate description of the plant.. exactly what it looks like.

I don't remember it saying Aquatic Fern though.. but heck, I knew it wasn't a fern because it was dying and I knew the Java ferns were a very hardy plant...

must go replace the plants then!

Bishop169

I will admit i got suckered into buying the peacock fern and the white ribbon

they lasted a few months but rotted after that

unvmyfins

This is my first post on fishlore forums, I've been a member for a month or so I guess. I've been doing alot of reading and cycled my tank fishless thanks to this site. And now, again thanks to this site, I've saved myself the grief and horror of an aquarium full of rotting plants.
Alessa, I bought the packet of bulbs with the "onion" in it and it did grow really well in my sisters 45 gallon tank for about a week and a half till some filthy feeders dug it up.
About the Anubis, it also came from petsmart in one of the infamous tubes, will it be ok to plant?

MousePotato

I have a Petsmart Anubias and it is doing quite well in my betta tank. I daresay it's doing better than the ones I got from the "good" LFS, but that's probably a behavioral issue rather than quality.

I don't mean to imply anything, my dear fishies, but I'm pretty sure those plants had roots when I first put them in the tank!