Unique Ceratopteris Pteridoides Antler Fern Floating Plant (1 XL PLANT or 3 Large Leaves)

(Information written by Aquarzon based on actual growing experience, observations and research. Please do not copy any information or photos) 

Portion Size : 1 XL SIZE plant (around palm size or larger) with multiple leaves OR 3 INDIVIDUAL LARGE LEAVES depending on what is most healthy and best available. 

Being a fern, it can easily grow babies directly from the leaves themselves (even from broken leaves) and it does not need roots.

Growth Speed   : Medium-Fast
Difficulty Level   : Easy
Temperature      : 10-30°C
PH Range          : 6.0-7.5
Min. Light Needs: Medium         
Origin                 : America, Southeast Asia

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Ceratopteris Pteridoides is a relatively unique floating fern plant that can grow large leaves. When this plant fully matures, it can resemble the shape of antlers which is why it is common know as floating Antler Fern. 

In our experience, as it has a very rigid base, no matter how well this plant is packed, some leaves may disconnect during postage. 

However, the very good news is that being a fern, this is totally fine as the disconnected leaf will grow as a new plant. It will grow new babies especially around the edges of the disconnected leaf and it does not need roots. (Aquarzon has taken photos here to show this).

Aquarzon recommends this plant for aquariums or ponds that need a larger type of floating plant with a unique leaves pattern.

In aquariums, it can provide some shade and natural shadow effect and absorb excess nutrients effectively.
This large floating plant can act as a safe area for labyrinth fish like betta and gourami to build their bubble foam nests. It is suitable for low tech tanks and it does not need CO2 addition. 

In ponds, it can help reduce algae by providing shade as well as absorbing excess nutrients.

This plant is relatively unique, as most ferns are usually non-floating whereas this totally floats.

Aquarzon observes this plant propagating mostly by growing babies around the edge of the leaves. This is not surprising considering that it is a fern. It is a less common propagating method as most floating plants (for example Red Root Floaters and Hygroza Aristata) usually propagate mostly or solely from their stalk/petiole/base rather than directly from the leaves itself. 

This ability means that you are able to easily propagate this plant even by breaking away any leaf since new babies will grow from those leaves.

Based on Aquarzon's research, it grows in both rivers and still water. As such, this plant is suitable for both aquarium and pond purposes, regardless of whether there is water flow or not. 

At first glance, it might not look like usual ferns like Java Fern (Microsorum genus) which aquarium hobbyists usually come across. And that observation is right. This is because this fern species is from a different family, a different subfamily and a different genus (Ceratopteris genus). 

Based on Aquarzon's research, Ceratopteris is understood to be the only genus within homosporous ferns that is exclusively aquatic. Pteridoides is the species under the Ceratopteris genus under the Parkerioideae subfamily of the family Pteridaceae. This large-growing plant is pan-tropical.

PHOTO OF AN ADULT XL PLANT



PHOTO OF COMPARISON OF LEAF SIZE COMPARED TO ADULT GUPPY










PHOTO OF INDIVIDUAL LEAF (babies can easily start growing directly from its leaves)





PHOTO OF LEAVES (babies can be seen forming at the top leaf)





PHOTO OF A MOTHER LEAF WITH BABIES GROWING



PHOTO ILLUSTRATING THE GROWTH STAGE OF A BABY FROM A MOTHER LEAF

PHOTO OF INDIVIDUAL LEAF

PHOTO OF 3 LEAVES




CLOSE-UP MACRO PHOTO OF LEAF WITH BACKLIGHT