Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.

Sumatra fern, Water Sprite, Indian Water Fern, Water Fern, Oriental Water Fern, Water Horn Fern

Ceratopteris thalictroides is found in natural and man-made ponds, irrigation ditches, rice (Oryza sativa) fields, taro (Colocasia esculenta) patches, shallow marshes, small streams, estuaries, swampy areas, lakes, still pockets along slow flowing rivers and waterlogged areas.

Native to: Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, California, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Florida, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Hainan, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madagascar, Malaya, Marianas, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Northern Territory, Panamá, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Solomon Is., Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Introduced into: Fiji, Hawaii, Romania

Submitted by: Benedetta Spelta

GPS: -9.6349087, 148.6232910

Geographical region: Oceania
Drainage Basin
River catchment
Water body type: Stream
Water body name: Nameless affluent
Water body part
Water body course: Lower course
Water body: tributary of: River
Tributary name: Safia

Type locality: Indonesia
Conservation status/IUCN Red List: Not Evaluated (NE)
Listed in CITES: No

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Clear water
Water transparency: Low
Concentration of sediments: High
Water temperature: 20-28 °C
Water flow/curent: None

Chemical parameters

pH: 6.5-7.5
Conductivity
GH
KH: 3-8 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form

Floating

Plant type

Rosulate

Plant size

25-40 cm

Plant growth rate

Fast

Plant light demand

High

CO2

None

Aquarium equipment

This fern can either grow on a substrate, free float in water, or attached to rocks or driftwood. If grown planted, Ceratopteris thalictroides can use pretty much any substrate available. Simply make sure to only cover the roots and keep the crown exposed.

When planted, Water Sprite plants will usually produce thinner leaves when floating and can easily fill a tank with minimal intervention, so they are a great plant choice for beginners.

Floating Water Sprite will develop a system of floating roots and absorb nutrients from the water.

If you can attach Water Sprite to lava rock or driftwood it will quickly anchor itself.

Plant care

Healthy Water Sprite leaves are fern-like, thin, light-green in color, and free from tears, cracks, rips and holes. Unlike other ferns, this floating plant can survive and do well in sunny to partially shady locations of water.

Water care

Water Sprite seems to prefer softer water, with KH between 3-8.