Plant ID

[snyper564]

I was given this today with the anubis i got and told it was moss but after some searching it doesnt look like moss. Any idea wat it is? Thanks

[Schalkv710]

Its a floating plant.had alot of these but cant remember the name.

[Zoom]

Yep, it's a floater! Good chance it's illegal... but they are great growers in the tank, and it's give your livebearing fry a chance at survival. Just chuck it in the tank and tee how it goes. Some fish will eat it up, or it will thrive.

(But I'm not condoning the keeping of an illegal plant here... if it is truely illegal, burn it and enjoy the fumes- ;-P` )

[Khalid]

Looks like hornwort

[Dirk Bellstedt]

And its not illegal...

Dirk

[Henk Hugo]

where as cabomba and elodea is :D

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Good Morning Henk,

You forgot Hydrilla and Egeria, but then places like Animal Kingdom wouldn't know the difference between hornwort, Elodea, cabomba, Egeria or Hydrilla for that matter in any case as they sell them all..... a recent survey has shown that about 60% of pet shop owners cannot identify any of these, and that is a fact!

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Big G]

Hey Dirk!!

I'm amazed its that few!! I would have thought more like 80%!!

Is this plant in question also called 'Guppy Grass', or is that a different plant altogether??

Regards
G!

[Dirk Bellstedt]

No, guppy grass is Najas guatemalensis, but I view it to have serious invasive potential.

My advice to all aquarists is that they should never get rid of aquatic plants down the toilet or the drain or the river, even the duckweed has the potential of becoming a problem. We should get our house in order or else in future we could be faced with a total ban of aquatic plant imports.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[snyper564]

Thanks guys glad to hear that its legal will be keeping it as a floater looks nice and green as well. Thanks for the id

[Big G]

Cheers Dirk!! I do find it difficult ID'ing plants, and then just as if trying to learn the Scientific names wasn't hard enough, its then got to be associated with a 'Common name'!! It all gets very confusing!!

I whole heartedly agree that we need to be careful with our plant disposal and make sure that none of it gets into our water systems. My main question though, is how do we do this with the likes of Duckweed?? It sticks to everything, and the only real way of getting rid of it is to have running water wash it off!! How would you dispose of duckweed??

And before Henk starts off on the illegal bit, yes I know, but a couple of strands came in on some plants, and spread rapidly!!

Regards
G!

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Just do not let the older parts get too old and pale, the plant then starts to develop a very peculiar smell. It is not dangerous to fishes but I can smell hornwort if I come into the room in which there is an aquarium with it.

Kind regards,

Dirk

With petshops selling loads of illegal plants, I think that all one should do is that one should see that one keeps one plants responsibly and does not spread the stuff into natural waters.

Re the Duckweed, you should use your aquarium water to water your garden. The nutrients from the ferts and the waste from your fishes and the duckweed then serves as fertilizer for your garden plants.

Kind regards,

Dirk