Water Sprite [Water Fern, Indian Fern]

Ceratopteris thalictroides — Water Sprite

A fast-growing, fern-like plant you can float or plant — vibrant green cover for any community tank

Water Sprite — also known as Water Fern or Indian Fern — is one of the most versatile and beginner-friendly plants in the hobby. Its delicate, finely divided fern-like leaves bring a soft, vibrant green texture to any freshwater aquarium, and it can be planted in the substrate as a mid-background plant or simply left to float at the surface. Either way, it grows fast, providing excellent cover and natural hiding spots for fish, fry, and shrimp to explore. Because it grows so quickly, it also draws up excess nutrients from the water — helping to starve out algae and keep a tank healthy. It pairs beautifully with darker Hornwort or red-tinged Ludwigia for striking contrast.

AQUASCAPING TIP: The easiest way to start is to float it — just rest it on the surface and let the roots dangle; it grows fast, shades the tank, and is ideal for betta and fry tanks. To plant it instead, gently anchor the base in the substrate without burying the growing crown (it's buoyant and delicate, so a plant weight helps until roots take hold). Its rapid growth makes it a natural ally against algae, especially in new or cycling tanks where it soaks up excess nutrients.

AT A GLANCE

CARE GUIDE

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ANSWERED

(Q) Can I plant it in the substrate, or should I let it float?

= Both work beautifully — it's your choice. Floating is the easiest method: just rest it on the water's surface and let the roots hang down. It grows quickly, creates shade and surface cover (great for betta and fry tanks), and pulls nutrients straight from the water. To plant it instead, gently insert the base into the substrate but keep the growing crown above it — don't bury it deep, as the roots are delicate and the plant is naturally buoyant, so a plant weight or gentle anchoring helps until it roots in. Planted, it grows more upright as a lush mid-background plant.

(Q) It arrived looking delicate and dropping some leaves — is it dying?

= Almost certainly not. Water Sprite has fine, brittle, fern-like foliage that bruises easily in transit, so it can look a little rough on arrival or shed some older leaves as it adjusts to your tank — this is normal for such a delicate plant. The good news is that because it grows so fast, it bounces back quickly. Plant it or float it, keep your conditions stable, and within a week or two you'll see fresh new growth filling in. Don't discard it just because the shipped leaves look tired — the new growth is what counts.

(Q) How fast does it grow, and how do I get more plants from it?

= Fast — which is part of what makes it so useful. That quick growth means it actively soaks up excess nutrients, helping to outcompete algae and stabilize new or cycling tanks. Getting more plants is effortless: Water Sprite produces tiny baby plantlets right on the edges of its leaves, each developing its own little leaves and roots. Once they're big enough, simply detach them and plant or float them elsewhere. You can also propagate from cuttings. Before long, one bundle can populate a whole tank — or give you plenty to share.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1 Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) bundle, 5+ inches (cuttings or rooted portion depending on stock), ready to plant or float on arrival. Rinse gently before adding to your tank. This is a delicate plant — it may look a little rough on arrival but recovers fast. See the FAQ above.

Ships within 10–15 business days.