Scientific Name: Limnobium laevigatum
Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Description and Requirements
Difficulty: Very Easy / Beginner-friendly
Growth Rate: Fast
Lighting: Medium to High (Under strong lighting, the leaves develop a striking dark, tiger-striped or mottled pattern).
CO2: Not required (utilizes atmospheric $CO_2$).
Water Parameters
Temperature: 18°C - 28°C (64°F - 82°F)
pH: 6.0 - 7.5
Hardness (GH): Soft to medium-hard (highly versatile)
Compatibility and Placement
Placement: Strictly a floating plant.
Compatibility: A premium biological filter for community tanks. Its long, feathery, and dramatic root system acts as an interactive playground for shrimp and fry, which love to graze on the microscopic biofilm attached to them. Perfect for Bettas, Gouramis, and Amazonian biotope setups featuring Discus, Angels, and Tetras.
Durability: Its thick, rosetted leaves are sturdier than smaller floating species, making it slightly more resilient against casual grazing from medium-sized fish.
Plant Tips & Recommendations
Pro Tip 1: Beware of Condensation: The absolute number one killer of Amazon Frogbit is trapped moisture on top of its leaves. If your customers have tightly sealed aquarium hoods, heavy condensation will drip onto the plant, causing the pads to rot. It thrives best in open-top (rimless) tanks or well-ventilated setups.
Pro Tip 2: Root Trimming is Perfectly Safe: In nutrient-rich environments, the roots can easily grow long enough to reach the substrate. Remind your buyers that the roots can be safely trimmed with aquascaping scissors to any desired length without harming the plant, helping keep the swimming area clear.
Pro Tip 3: Heavy Nitrate Sponge: Because it grows rapidly and directly accesses atmospheric gases, it acts as a massive nutrient sponge, aggressively absorbing ammonia and nitrates to maintain pristine water quality.