What plant would you recommend in a tank with a betta and snails?

Question

I was thinking about getting Java Moss, Java Fern, Cabomba, Banana Plant, Hornwort, Pennywort, and Egeria najas.

Any other recommendations? Will the snails eat some of these? I know that Java Moss and Hornwort are generally safe.

Any planting information on them, or how they grow, and whta conditions I need to give them.

Mystery, Ramhorn, Malaysian or Trapdoor snails? I am a breeder and have all 4 on hand. I was thinking the Apple will be better since I can always see them and I can take out and keep the eggs they produce. Along wit the Malaysian snails to keep the gravel turned for the plants.

What is the scientific name or another name for the Banana plant?

Oh yes, I have a 10 gallon, no way would I torture my Betta.

No talk about the snails, I know what I'm doing, I have never had any bad experiences with tanks being overrun.

Answer 1

The correct scientific name for the banana plant is Nymphoides aquatica, although you'll sometimes see it in pet store mislabelled as Anubias. These are totally different plants.

Various species of your snails will try to eat most of the plants, particularly if they don't get enough to eat otherwise. I would skip the Cabomba, because it's one of the more difficult to grow and needs bright lighting to survive.

Hornwort might hold up the best, but you may find you'll have difficulty planting it - it doesn't "root" to the substrate, so you'll have to bury the lower part of the stem. You can also float the plant on the surface. Same with the Egeria.

The Pennywort (Hydrocotyle) will grow out of the water as well as in it. You can plant the base in your gravel, then move the stem where you want it as it starts to grow up and out of the tank.

The Java moss (Vesicularia) will grow on just about any surface - just weight it, or tie with cotton thread to a rock or piece of driftwood. It should take hold within a few weeks. No need to cut the thread either - the moss will grow around it and it will eventually decompose.

The Java fern shouldn't be planted, but put on driftwood so the roots are out of the substrate. It needs this to get nutrients from the water, so tie this to the driftwood or rock like the Java moss.

The banana plant should be planted shallowly if at all - dont cover the "banana" parts, but allow them to sit on the surface of the substrate, or tie them to a piece of driftwood or rock like the Java moss and fern.

Egeria might be another one that's difficult for you - it also likes brighter light. You can try planting it, but the lower part of the stem may rot, and the rest of the plant float up to the top.

http://www.aquariaplants.com/plantingtips.htm
http://faq.thekrib.com/plant-list.html
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/snail2.htm
http://naturalaquariums.com/plants/plants.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/plants.php

Answer 2

Personally I would go with Java Moss and cabomba. Riccia or water lettuce makes good floating plants for a betta tank.

None of those plants need any special considerations really and the one's you plant are all stem plants which tend to root quickly and easily. Cabomba and Egeria grow rather weak root systems and will not stay planted well for ages no matter what you do, but given time they will root.

I have seen snails go through Cabomba before, I know they will eat that. Egeria as well as I recall.

MM

Answer 3

MM and Copperhead's answers gave you a lot of good information. I prefer the Banana Plant and Hornwort out of your plant suggestions. I like like the banana plant because it is a plant that my apple snail does not like to eat, but does need some good lighting. Now the Hornwort is a good plant because it is pretty easy to care for and only needs moderate lighting.

Answer 4

my favourite would be Java Moss and Anubinus. Java Moss makes a great carpet plant and once its settled it will grow like nothing else. You can use an Anubinus Nana for a centre piece it is the strongest plant i have ever known but if you use java moss be careful it doesn't grow onto other plants and into the filter.

hope i could help.

Answer 5

those are all fine as long as your tank is big enough to accomidate them (for their size) im also assumeing you have like a 10 gallon tank since most people have 1g tank when they have bettas and snails. i think the best plants are the ones you buy at walmart in those boxes. they grow fast, dont get too large, and have a 30 day garentee for their growth. (just dont use anit algea tablets) also you might want to conciter plant anchors. plants tend to pop up out from under the gravel weather fish did it or what ever.

good luck

Answer 6

don't use the malaysians!!!! they are the pest snails that come in on plants? the little spiral shelled ones? they eat plants i think.

moss balls, anubias, microsword, wisteria, carnivorous foreground plant if you can find it.