So I got a betta as a white elephant last night. It’s been a while since I’ve had one, so I’m more than a bit rusty. Right now he’s in a 5 gallon (topfin starter kit). The 2 smaller plants are fabric, which I know isn’t ideal, but those were by far the best options. The tall one in the back is plastic, but necessary to block the filter from being too strong.
I know live plants are best, but I am absolutely terrible when it comes to plants. I have normal aquarium gravel, which I know will affect things. I’m going to at least start with a pothos, but I know the hood is going to be a tricky obstacle. It seems as though there are some live plants that don’t require to be rooted in the substrate, so I’m hoping to go in that direction. The goal for me is a hybrid option, as I know that’s what’s most realistic for me.
I’m totally balling on a budget here, so any budget friendly advice is totally appreciated.
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Posted by Luna6102
12 Comments
Ebay has great options budget is tough because healthy plants come at a price but some christmas moss or even some dwarf sagittaria I’m sure there’s people that can recommend other options.
I have java ferns that I buy in tubes (Top Fin) from PetSmart so I do not have to worry about bringing in snails. They have smaller and larger sizes. I do not have any gravel on the bottom of my 5 gallon tanks – I painted the underside of the bottom black. The java ferns simply float and are very easy plants to care for. I also have silk plants similar to yours also. Many web sites talk about the easy care of java ferns. They are the only live plants that I have. The larger ones do not move much and are long enough to reach from the bottom of the tank to the top. Love them and my bettas even sometimes lay on the java ferns and are constantly swimming among them.
A couple pothos cuttings can provide more than enough roots to fill the tank and will start to take root if they reach the substrate. One leaf and one node per cutting is all you need. You might even find yourself pruning roots later because a betta’s fins can get tangled
From my xp:
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These are all low-tech/easy care water column feeders: Taiwan or Java moss, anubias nana petite, frogbit (or red root floaters, or salvinia minima) – give them NilocG all-in-one.
If you want to have rooters you need to apply root tab fertilizer. I also have river gravel and it works good, I just put tabs where the rooters are. Good luck!
Anubis!!!! You just glue or tie it to a rock or wood or anything and it’s hard to kill!!!!! I have Anubis coffofolia (I don’t think that’s how you spell it) I also shop almost exclusively at DAKU aquatics. His plants are reasonably priced and always come very healthy.
Java fern, anubias, guppy grass, hornwort, bacopa, salvinia minima, frog bit
Java fern, Anubias, Java moss (most mosses really), willow fern (aka willow hygro), and bucephalandra are really easy plants in my experience as tou dont bury them down. Buceplant.com has a lot of plants listed that makes research really easy for care
What country are you in?
I have had a lot of luck with the can’t kill it combo from Dustin’s. Not to sound like an ad but I had no clue about plants 4 months ago- and as advertised I haven’t killed em yet. Plus I got some snails by accident.
r/aquaswap
Tons of beginner packages from people who know what they are doing and want to share the hobby
Two common plants you glue to a rock: java ferns and anubias. They die if planted in substrate.
get anubias. put gorilla glue (gel) on the rhizome, not the roots, and attach it to a rock or driftwood.
plants that can be attached like this are water column feeders, all you need is an all in one fertilizer. i use “Thrive”. root feeder plants would need to be planted in substrate with root tabs
i get all my plants from etsy !