Aquariumattached plant · easy
Java fern: height, light, CO₂ & fish that eat it
Microsorum pteropus (syn. Leptochilus pteropus) typically grows 5.9–12 in tall (15–30 cm) and grows tied to wood or rock. It's rated for low–high light, and injected CO₂ is not needed. Temperature 39–86°F, pH 5–8.
How tall it grows
Each bar is roughly the water depth a tank leaves above the substrate. The teal band is the plant's reported height range. ✓ fits, trim means it can reach the surface, ✕ means it typically outgrows the water.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Grows to
- 5.9–12 in (15–30 cm)
- Height basis
- Tropica 2-month avg (listed 15-30+)
- Where it goes
- attached, midground, background
- Light
- low–high light
- Injected CO₂
- not needed
- Growth
- slow
- Difficulty
- easy
- Temperature
- 39–86°F
- pH
- 5–8
- Hardness
- 0–30 dGH
- Feeds through
- not published
- Also sold as
- Java fern; forms sold as 'Windelov', 'Narrow', 'Philippine', 'Needle Leaf', 'Tropica' (per Flowgrow)
Planting tip: Do not bury the rhizome; tie it to wood or rock with line until it grips.
Fish and Java fern
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: plant-eating and digging named in each fish's sources, plus temperature and pH overlap.
Eats it (5)
May uproot it (0)
- Not rooted, so digging fish can't pull it up.
Different water (0)
- Every fish shares some temperature and pH range with it.
Fish that leave it alone and share its water (101)
Common questions
How tall does Java fern grow?
Growers report about 5.9–12 in (15–30 cm). Basis: Tropica 2-month avg (listed 15-30+).
How much light does Java fern need?
It's rated for low–high light. Growers often disagree on light, so this is the full range across our sources.
Does Java fern need CO₂?
No. Its sources rate its CO₂ need as low, and it grows without injection.
Which fish eat Java fern?
In our database, Convict Cichlid, Common Pleco, Common / Comet Goldfish, Tinfoil Barb, Buenos Aires Tetra are flagged as eating live plants. Tough-leaved anubias usually hold up better.
Gear for Java fern
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Where growers disagree, we show the full range. Last reviewed 2026-10-17.
- tropica.com /en/plants/plantdetails/Microsorumpteropus(008)/4408
- aquasabi.com /Microsorum-pteropus
- flowgrow.de /db/aquaticplants/microsorum-pteropus