Plants for your betta tank (nano size, low tech)

I have been keeping plants in low light betta tanks for many years. Also I have recently been doing further research and have been compiling plants that are compatible for low light, low tech, nano size. This list assumes that the lighting is of the proper spectrum (6000-7000k) and in the upper range of what is considered low light (1.5W+ fluorescent). Luckily these lights are now fairly easy to obtain on a budget, particularly some of the newer LED lights as fixtures or built into kits such as the Fluval Spec V. They also should all be able to be grown with minimal ferts such as Flourish Comp and plant substrate or root tabs. I also am not including any plant that won't fit in a betta/nano tank which I define for the purpose as this thread a maximum of 10 gallon. So Amazon swords can't be included as they will grow out the top of any tank this small.

Some of these plants I have years of experience with, some I've never seen. So I might have incorrectly included a plant, and certainly missed many. I would love to hear feedback on your experience with any of these plants as well as get additional plants added to this list that I neglected to include. Please stick to plants that fit the above parameters, and are obtainable, either online or commonly at LFSs. I will update the list with your additions.

Anubias
Afzelli
Barteri
Coffeefolia
Golden
Hastifolia
Heterophylla
Lanceolata
Minima
Nana
Nana Petite
Nangi

Crypts
Balansae
Blassii
Lucens
Lutea
Petchii
Pontederiifolia
Pygmy
Retrospiralis
Wendtii, Brown
Wendtii, Bronze
Wendtii, Copper
Wendtii, Green
Wendtii, Red
Wendtii, Rose
Wendtii, Florida Sunset

Ferns
Java Fern
Lace Java Fern (Windelov)
Narrow Java Fern
Philippine Java Fern
Red Java Fern
African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotti: broad & narrow leaf var.)
Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis'
Bolbitis heteroclita 'Cuspidata' (aka Micro)

Vals
Corkscrew
Contortion

Mosses
Java
Christmas
Flame
Marimo
Subwassertang
Pellia

Floating plants
Duckweed
Salvinia

Other
Moneywort
Pennywort
Lemon bacopa
Pygmy Chain Sword
Micro Sword
Guppy Grass
Hornwort
Water Wisteria
Willow Hygro
Green Hygro
Sunset Hygro
Ceylon Hygro
Water Sprite
Rotala rotundifolia
Hornwort
Dwarf Sagittaria

Semi-Aquatic "Bog" Plants
Umbrella Plant
Bamboo

What are your favorites?

 

Ought to add Umbrella plant to the list. Wish I knew the scientific name of mine, as it has grown very well underwater whereas most "umbrella plants" can only grow partially submerged. But it's the one they sell at Petco in the tubes lol. I often see new leaves, but it doesn't seem to get more than 8" tall.

 

I'm currently playing around with these anubias nana petite. The leaves are really tiny. This is the first time I've gotten ahold of this plant, but pairs up with this manzanita wood really good. I'm going to put some in different lighting and conditions and keep records of how fast it grows. I'm hoping I can prompt it to grow quickly with CO2, so it can then be moved to a low light tank after.

 

Ought to add Umbrella plant to the list. Wish I knew the scientific name of mine, as it has grown very well underwater whereas most "umbrella plants" can only grow partially submerged. But it's the one they sell at Petco in the tubes lol. I often see new leaves, but it doesn't seem to get more than 8" tall.

How long have you had this plant in your tank? Bamboo would fit into this category bog plant category too, supposedly it won't rot if some leaves are out of the water.

 

It has been in there at least 6 months. I think if you look up pictures of leather plant that's the plant I have, but I haven't found the real scientific name yet. I'vefound bamboo also does all right if yyou let it grow out the top of the tank, but I keep mine in fairly shallow water.

 

Subwassertang has become my new fave. Jenks likes to sleep/hide in it. I even have a piece in a cup on the windowsill hatching snail eggs, its been there almost a month and is still growing no problem.

 

Subwassertang has become my new fave. Jenks likes to sleep/hide in it. I even have a piece in a cup on the windowsill hatching snail eggs, its been there almost a month and is still growing no problem.

I've never messed with this one, but it is clearly a low light moss, It reminded me of pellia which is very similar, I will add both.

 

Bolbitis heteroclita difformis, aka "baby leaf" is a wonderful plant, and I really like it. Selene/Selenium's tank has one. But don't get it mixed up with the Bolbitis heudelottI (African water fern) that you usually find in packages at the large chain LFS. The latter are better for terrariums and will melt in most tank situations. It is not clear to me what is meant by "narrow Bolbitis."

I love anubias and have about a dozen different kinds. Some of them, such as congensis, afzelii, and frazeri, can get quite big.

 

It seems to me like it would work well for fry. The snails sure like it lol.

 

Bolbitis heteroclita difformis, aka "baby leaf" is a wonderful plant, and I really like it. Selene/Selenium's tank has one. But don't get it mixed up with the Bolbitis heudelottI (African water fern) that you usually find in packages at the large chain LFS. The latter are better for terrariums and will melt in most tank situations. It is not clear to me what is meant by "narrow Bolbitis."

I love anubias and have about a dozen different kinds. Some of them, such as congensis, afzelii, and frazeri, can get quite big.

Bolbitis heudelotii, African water fern, is according to more than one online profile and forum thread a fully aquatic plant that is relatively easy to grow. I have seen it for sale in a 'broad leaf' and 'narrow leaf' version. I have never kept this plant before myself, but I recently ordered about 30 of the plants off of the above list including this one, so I will be able to judge it soon enough.

I didn't think much when I listed the anubias species. On second thought I agree that congenisis and frazerI are too big to be on this list, although afzeliI would make a good background plant in a small tank, agree?

 

Bolbitis heudelotii, African water fern, is according to more than one online profile and forum thread a fully aquatic plant that is relatively easy to grow. I have seen it for sale in a 'broad leaf' and 'narrow leaf' version. I have never kept this plant before myself, but I recently ordered about 30 of the plants off of the above list including this one, so I will be able to judge it soon enough.

I didn't think much when I listed the anubias species. On second thought I agree that congenisis and frazerI are too big to be on this list, although afzeliI would make a good background plant in a small tank, agree?

Let us know how it grows with the BOLBITIS (sorry about the caps but I have to spell out words that the voice recognition can't deal with). The kind usually available in tubes at LfS are terrestrial and generally melt in tanks, but yes I have seen on forums that some people can keep them alive if they use CO2. Since you do that you may be able to make them work.

Yes I agree that if someone has a tall enough Nano tank, a midsized ANubiaS would be perfect in the back

Ugh. voice recognition does not like plant names

 

I might have missed it on your list but what about dwarf sag? I *think* that's what I have in jenks tank, it came with some snails and has exploded lol. Its growing great in his 5, low light, no ferts except floramax. Its not growing in my big tank but its growing like mad in his.

 

I might have missed it on your list but what about dwarf sag? I *think* that's what I have in jenks tank, it came with some snails and has exploded lol. Its growing great in his 5, low light, no ferts except floramax. Its not growing in my big tank but its growing like mad in his.

Yes, I overlooked this plant, it has been added.