Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)

Yes. The classic Java fern is the toughest of the Java fern types and is very forgiving of Indian tap water and warm temperatures. Keep the rhizome above the substrate and the leaves out of strong direct light, and it is very hard to kill, which is why it suits beginners and betta tanks.

They are the same species, Microsorum pteropus, with the same care and the same ₹175 price. The classic Java fern has broad, smooth, lance-shaped leaves, while Java Fern Philippine has broader, longer leaves with prominent veining, so it makes a bolder focal plant on wood. Both grow about 15–30 cm tall.

No. Classic Java fern grows under low to moderate light without any CO₂ injection.

Keep the rhizome out of the gravel. Tie it to driftwood or stone with cotton thread, or fix it with a dab of aquarium-safe glue; within a few weeks the roots grip the surface on their own.

Yes. Fish and shrimp can live with it safely. The leathery leaves have smooth edges that will not snag a betta’s fins, and shrimp graze the film that grows on them.

We pack it by hand and courier it anywhere in India. Shipping is ₹99, or free when the order totals ₹999 or more. If the plant arrives dead, record one continuous unboxing video and send it within 4 hours of delivery on WhatsApp (+91 81416 96983) or to buyanubias@gmail.com, and we will refund or replace it. Photos alone are not accepted.

Yes. Java fern is one of the easiest plants for a low-tech freshwater aquarium. It takes up some nitrate, though slowly, and gives cover to fry and shrimp. It grows to 15–30 cm tall on wood or rock, so it suits sand and bare-bottom tanks too. Most goldfish and cichlids leave its tough, bitter leaves alone, but big diggers can pull it loose, so tie it on firmly. See our list of plants for goldfish and cichlid tanks.

Java fern makes its own food from light, using CO₂ and nutrients dissolved in the water. Its leaves and roots take up nitrogen and phosphate from fish waste, but potassium and iron mostly come from fertiliser. In a lightly stocked, low-light tank, fish waste can be enough for its slow growth. If older leaves turn pale or get pinholes, dose a liquid fertiliser once a week. Root tabs do little, as its roots sit on wood or rock. See root tabs vs liquid fertiliser.

Brown or black patches usually mean the rhizome has been buried, the plant is still adjusting after shipping, or the tank is short of potassium. Keep the rhizome above the substrate, trim the damaged leaves and dose a liquid fertiliser weekly. New leaves and plantlets often sprout from the old ones. See our Java fern brown and black leaves guide.

Its roots can rest on sand, but the rhizome must never be buried, because a buried rhizome rots. Tie or glue the plant to driftwood or rock, or wedge it between stones so the rhizome stays in open water. The roots will then grip the surface on their own within a few weeks.

Java fern is a slow grower. In a low-light tank without CO₂ it adds only a few new leaves a month, and it can take several months to fill out a piece of wood. Brighter light and a weekly liquid fertiliser speed it up, and mature leaves start producing small plantlets you can replant.