Carotopteris Thalictroides

🌿 Plant Profile

• Scientific name: Ceratopteris thalictroides
• Common name: Water Sprite, Indian Fern
• Family: Pteridaceae (aquatic fern)
• Plant type: Fast-growing aquatic fern
• Growth rate: Fast
• Difficulty: Very easy

🍃 Appearance

• Soft, finely divided feathery green leaves
• Looks like a delicate underwater fern
• Can grow submerged or floating
• Forms bushy, light green clusters

💡 Aquarium Requirements

• 💡 Light: Low to high (very adaptable)
• 🌡️ Temperature: 20–30°C
• 💧 pH: 5.0–7.5
• 🌱 Substrate: Not strict (can float or root loosely)
• 🫧 CO₂: Not required, but helps faster growth

🌱 Care Tips

• Extremely fast grower → may need frequent trimming
• Can be used floating to absorb excess nutrients (good for algae control)
• Also grows well planted in substrate
• Very beginner-friendly plant

✂️ Propagation

• Produces plantlets on leaves and stems
• Also propagates easily by cutting and replanting shoots

🐠 Aquascaping Use

• Background plant or floating plant
• Great for shrimp tanks, fry tanks, and low-tech setups
• Provides excellent shelter for small fish
• Helps improve water quality by absorbing nitrates