Monte Carlo [Micranthemum Tweediei]

Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei)

The fast-spreading carpet plant that turns your aquarium floor into a lush green lawn.

Transform your aquarium with Monte Carlo, an intermediate aquatic plant known for its fast growth and low-creeping, bright green texture. Its compact, round leaves spread horizontally across the substrate in a dense, uniform mat — one of the most satisfying carpeting effects in the aquascaping hobby. Versatile enough to drape softly over rocks, driftwood, or decor, it adds layered dimension wherever it grows.

Why Aquarists Love Monte Carlo:

• Thrives in medium to high light — performs best with strong, consistent lighting
• Ideal water temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C)
• Stays low at just 1+ inch — the perfect foreground carpeting plant
• Safe for fish, shrimp, and invertebrates
• CO2: Recommended for best results and faster, denser coverage

Care Tips:

• Fertilizer: Weekly liquid fertilizer recommended; root tabs help fuel lateral spread
• Substrate: Fine gravel or nutrient-rich substrate for best root anchoring
• Propagation: Trim stem cuttings and replant — regular trimming encourages thicker, denser carpeting

Customer Questions Answered

(Q) Do I really need CO2 to grow Monte Carlo?

= CO2 injection is strongly recommended for the best results. Without it, Monte Carlo will still grow, but more slowly and with a tendency to grow upward rather than creeping flat along the substrate. If you're running a low-tech tank, be prepared to compensate with strong lighting and nutrient-rich substrate — it can be done, but CO2 gives you the dense, flat carpet most aquascapers are after.

(Q) How long will it take to fully carpet my tank floor?

= With good light, CO2, and regular fertilizing, Monte Carlo can carpet a small to medium foreground area in 4–8 weeks. Planting in small clumps 1–2 inches apart rather than in one dense patch speeds up lateral spread significantly. Consistent trimming as it grows — rather than letting it pile up — trains it to stay low and fill in evenly.

(Q) Is this plant safe for shrimp, and will shrimp or fish uproot it?

= Monte Carlo is completely safe for shrimp, snails, and all common community fish. In fact, shrimp love grazing through the dense mat for biofilm and micro-organisms. Small or peaceful fish rarely disturb it. However, large, digging fish like cichlids or goldfish can uproot it before it's fully anchored — it's best kept with fish that leave the substrate alone until the carpet is well-established.

What's Included:

1 portion of Monte Carlo in a 2-inch pot or cup, ready to plant upon arrival. Simply separate into small clumps and press gently into substrate 1–2 inches apart to encourage even coverage.

Ships within 10–15 business days.