Salvinia minima – Floating Aquarium Plant for Shade, Shrimp & Betta Cover
Soft green cover across the surface.
Salvinia (Salvinia minima, also called water spangles) floats as small, fuzzy, rounded leaves with fine, root-like leaves trailing below. It spreads quickly, shades the tank and gives fry and shrimp a place to hide.
The problem
Bright, open surfaces stress shy fish like bettas. Excess nutrients in the water feed algae.
The Father Fish way
Floating plants are natural nutrient control. Salvinia pulls nutrients straight from the water as it grows. Net out the extra and the nutrients leave with it.
Your plan
- Float it. Never plant it. Keep water from splashing onto the leaves, and keep lids from dripping condensation on them. Both brown the leaves.
- Give it light. Moderate to strong light, 64–90°F (best 75–82°F).
- Thin it weekly. Keep cover under about half the surface so the plants below get light. Compost the extras. Never release them outdoors.
What you get
- 1 portion of floating Salvinia minima
- Fast growth: it can double its coverage in one to two weeks
Where we ship: Salvinia is prohibited in Texas, so we can't ship it to Texas addresses. If a Texas order comes through, we'll issue store credit instead.
Why it matters
Too little cover and bettas hide. Too much and plants below starve. Thinned weekly, it's the easiest cover you'll ever grow.
FAQ
- Can you ship it to Texas? No. Salvinia is prohibited there. Check your own state's rules before ordering.
- Why are the leaves browning? Usually water sitting on the leaves, or lid condensation.
- Will it take over? It grows fast. Net some out weekly.
- Is it giant salvinia? No. S. minima is the small, commonly traded species. Giant salvinia is federally banned.
