background plant · easy

Vallisneria: height, light, CO₂ & fish that eat it

Vallisneria spiralis typically grows 12–39 in tall (30–100 cm) and grows in the background of a tank. It's rated for medium–high light, and injected CO₂ is not needed. Temperature 41–86°F, pH 5–9.

Try it in the tank builder See which fish eat it

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.

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Quick facts

Grows to: 12–39 in (30–100 cm)
Height basis: mature: Aquasabi care height 30-80 cm; Dennerle up to 100 cm
Where it goes: background
Light: medium–high light
Injected CO₂: not needed
Growth: fast
Difficulty: easy
Temperature: 41–86°F
pH: 5–9
Hardness: 0–30 dGH
Feeds through: roots and leaves
Also sold as: Eelgrass; tape grass

Planting tip: Spreads by runners; thin out runners that creep into the foreground.

Fish and Vallisneria

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 (9)

May uproot it (6)

Different water (0)

Every fish shares some temperature and pH range with it.

Fish that leave it alone and share its water (95)

Pearl Gourami Angelfish German Blue Ram Bolivian Ram Kribensis Electric Yellow Lab Bronze Cory Panda Cory Pygmy Cory Julii Cory Bristlenose Pleco Otocinclus Kuhli Loach Hillstream Loach Siamese Algae Eater Cherry Shrimp Amano Shrimp Nerite Snail Mystery Snail Glowlight Tetra Lemon Tetra Congo Tetra Black Neon Tetra Chili Rasbora Boesemani Rainbowfish Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish African Dwarf Frog Pea Puffer Ghost Shrimp Iridescent Shark Bala Shark Red-Tail Shark Rainbow Shark Chinese Algae Eater Neon Tetra Cardinal Tetra Black Skirt Tetra Serpae Tetra Rummy-nose Tetra Ember Tetra Harlequin Rasbora Zebra Danio Celestial Pearl Danio White Cloud Mountain Minnow Cherry Barb Tiger Barb Guppy Endler's Livebearer Molly Platy Swordtail Betta Dwarf Gourami Honey Gourami Head-and-tail-light Tetra Bleeding Heart Tetra Diamond Tetra Silver Tip Tetra Pristella Tetra Penguin Tetra Silver Hatchetfish Marbled Hatchetfish Lambchop Rasbora Pearl Danio Giant Danio Scissortail Rasbora Gold Barb Rosy Barb Odessa Barb Denison Barb Variatus Platy Three-spot Gourami Moonlight Gourami Sparkling Gourami Paradise Fish Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Firemouth Cichlid Discus Blood Parrot Cichlid Peppered Cory Sterbai Cory Clown Pleco Pictus Catfish Glass Catfish Upside-down Catfish Weather Loach Forktail Blue-eye Clown Killifish Bumblebee Goby Crystal Red Shrimp Bamboo Shrimp Ramshorn Snail Malaysian Trumpet Snail Assassin Snail Japanese Trapdoor Snail

Common questions

How tall does Vallisneria grow?

Growers report about 12–39 in (30–100 cm). Basis: mature: Aquasabi care height 30-80 cm; Dennerle up to 100 cm.

How much light does Vallisneria need?

It's rated for medium–high light. Growers often disagree on light, so this is the full range across our sources.

Does Vallisneria need CO₂?

No. Its sources rate its CO₂ need as low, and it grows without injection.

Which fish eat Vallisneria?

In our database, Convict Cichlid, Common Pleco, Common / Comet Goldfish, Clown Loach, Tinfoil Barb, Buenos Aires Tetra, Kissing Gourami, Yoyo Loach, Fancy Goldfish are flagged as eating live plants. Tough-leaved anubias usually hold up better.

Gear for Vallisneria

PlantLive Vallisneria. Compare sellers and pot sizes.Find on Amazon →LightA planted-tank LED. Vallisneria needs at least medium light.Find on Amazon →Root tabsIt feeds through its roots. Tabs put fertilizer in the substrate.Find on Amazon →

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Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Where growers disagree, we show the full range. Last reviewed 2026-10-17.

aquasabi.com /Vallisneria-spiralis
dennerleplants.com /en/plants/plantdetails/Vallisneria-spiralis-(753)/27940
flowgrow.de /db/aquaticplants/vallisneria-spiralis
tropica.com /en/plants/plantdetails/Vallisneriaspiralis'Tiger'(055A)/4503