In this post, I will share a list of 10 best aquarium plants for your goldfish tank.
As you might already know, Goldfish is one of the most popular aquarium fish in the world. But, it is not that easy to have goldfish in a live planted aquarium. It consumes food items almost every time you try to feed them, and even some plants. But, they don’t eat all types of plants, mainly the ones with little hardness.
You can plant almost all aquarium plants in a goldfish tank like, those plants with deep roots or those set up on rock, wood etc. If you want your goldfish not to eat the plants in your aquarium, then you can use those plants that are little hard. Because, those plants will be difficult for the goldfish to consume.
10 Best Aquarium Plants for Goldfish Tank
Here, I will show you 10 easy to set up aquarium plants for your goldfish tank, in which there are both hard plants, or plants that can be eaten by Goldfish.
Java Fern
Java Fern (also known as Microsorum Pteropus) is a little hard plant for your Goldfish tank. This plant is usually not planted at the bottom of the aquarium. You can set Java Fern on wood, rock, stone etc. for your aquarium. This aquarium plant can grow in a very low light condition and the CO2 amount required is also very low.
Java Fern is an aquarium plant that you can set easily and doesn’t need much care from you. Also, as the leaves are little hard, you don’t have to worry about your Goldfish eating its leaves. And, as it is usually set on items like driftwood, stones etc. the chance for damage is also less.
Anubias
The structure of Anubias (Anubias Barteri) is similar to Java Fern. You can easily set it on driftwood and other decorations in your aquarium and also there is no need of substrates. This plant grows well in low light conditions. Similar to Java Fern, the leaves of Anubias is also little hard which makes it hard for the Goldfish to eat or make damages.
Crypts
Crypts (Cryptocoryne Wendtii) is an aquarium plant that requires substrate to grow. This plant can be set on river sand, soil etc. Also, it can grow in low light conditions and in low CO2 levels. And, the maintenance required is also very less.
As the root system of the Crypts plant is generally hard, it’s better to set it a few days before you add fishes into your aquarium. This also helps to prevent your Goldfish from damaging the plant and the roots setup.
Amazon Sword
Amazon Sword (also known as Echinodorus Bleheri) is a rosette type plant that can be used in Goldfish aquariums. This plant requires substrate and here you can use river sand, soil etc. As it takes time to set the roots, its better to add fishes to your aquarium after a week of planting Amazon Sword. It can grow in low light condition and with less amount of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide).
Unlike Java Fern, the leaves of Amazon Sword are soft and therefore it can be eaten and damaged by Goldfish. But, as this plant grow and spread faster, you don’t have to worry about the damages.
Onion Plant
This plant has structures similar to onion at its bottom. Compared to other common aquarium plants, the growth rate of Onion plant is a bit lower. This grows slower and requires more amount of CO2. Also, as the leaves of the Onion Plant is hard, there is no chance that your Goldfishes will eat it.
The Onion Plant develops a strong root structure and will benefit from a nutrient-rich substrate.
Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum), also known as money plant, is generally used to decorate an aquarium. It can be setup in aquariums in a way which the roots are kept to grow in the bottom and the plant is then allowed to grow outside as a decoration. This plant grows well if it is allowed to extract nutrients from the bottom of the aquarium.
Java Moss
Java Moss (Taxiphyllum Barbieri) is one of the commonly used aquarium plant. It is easy to set up Java Moss on drift wood, rock, mesh etc. This plant grows faster than most other aquarium plants and the lighting and CO2 amount required is less.
As the plant will grow very fast, you don’t have to worry about your Goldfish eating or damaging it.
Water Sprite
Water Sprite (Ceratopteris Thalictroides) is a very common freshwater aquarium plant. It is usually set up as floating plant in aquariums. This plant will not be consumed by your Goldfish.
Water Sprite will grow faster if good lighting and enough amount of CO2 is available. Also, it is seen that the detritus from the Goldfish will also improve the growth of this plant.
Duckweed
Duckweed (Lemna Minor) is a floating and fast growing freshwater aquarium plant. It will grow even more faster in good lighting condition. This plant will not be damaged by your Goldfish.
Anacharis
This is a fast growing plant for your Goldfish aquarium. It grows at a rate of nearly 1.5 inches a day. This will be used by the Goldfish in your aquarium as light food but will not get damaged.
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FAQs
As the leaves of Crypts plant are usually a little hard, it prevents the Goldfish from eating the leaves. So you don’t have to worry about the leaves getting damaged too.
