What are the best live plants for betta tanks? The best live plants for betta tanks are hardy, low-light species: anubias nana, java fern, Amazon frogbit, water sprite, hornwort, marimo balls and pothos roots. They add cover near the surface. A 2024 Animal Welfare study found male bettas swam more in tanks enriched with live plants, rocks and gravel.
Key takeaway: Live plants for betta tanks should be soft, hardy and low-light. Tie anubias and java fern to wood, float frogbit or water sprite for surface cover, and add hornwort or pothos roots to soak up waste. Research shows bettas in bare bowls swim less; use at least a 2.6-gallon (10 L) tank with plants and hiding spots.
| Plant | Placement | Light | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anubias nana | Tied to rock or wood | Low (thrives in shade) | Tropica |
| Java fern | Tied to rock or wood | Low | Tropica |
| Amazon frogbit | Floating | Low | Tropica |
| Water sprite | Floating or rooted | Medium | Tropica |
| Hornwort | Floating or weighted | Low to medium | Hydroponic Era guide |
| Marimo ball | On substrate | Low | Hydroponic Era guide |
| Pothos | Roots in water, leaves out | Room light | Hydroponic Era guide |
Why Do Bettas Need Live Plants for Betta Enrichment?
Live plants for betta tanks add cover, resting spots and enrichment. Oldfield and Murphy’s 2024 study in Animal Welfare kept male bettas in bare or enriched containers with gravel, large rocks and live plants, and enriched fish showed more swimming. Bettas in tiny 17-ounce (0.5 L) bowls swam less than those in larger tanks.
The authors concluded that at least a 2.6-gallon (10 L) aquarium is needed for full swimming behavior, and that even very large tanks cannot guarantee two males will live peacefully together. Plants help, but they do not replace space.
Which Live Plants for Betta Tanks Are Easiest?
The easiest live plants for betta tanks are slow, hardy plants that do not need CO2 or bright light. Tropica describes anubias nana as a small plant that thrives in all conditions, including shady spots, and rates java fern as low light and low CO2. Both grow on rock or wood, not in the gravel.
- Anubias nana: reaches about 2–4 inches (5–10 cm); Tropica says it is not eaten by herbivorous fish.
- Java fern: a hardy Asian water fern 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) tall.
- Amazon frogbit: a floating plant with long roots that shelter surface fish.
- Water sprite: fast and forgiving, rooted or floating.
- Hornwort: a rootless stem plant that floats or sits weighted.
- Marimo ball: a slow algae ball for the tank floor.
- Pothos: roots hang in the water while leaves grow above it.
See our full guides to anubias and java fern.
How Do You Attach Live Plants for Betta Tanks to Wood?
Attach rhizome live plants for betta tanks, such as anubias and java fern, to hardscape instead of burying them. Tropica says both should be grown on a stone or root and held with fishing line until they grip. If planted in the bottom, the rhizome must not be covered, because it tends to rot. This also creates leaves at mid-tank height where bettas like to rest.
- Rinse the plant and remove any rock wool from the roots.
- Place the rhizome against a rock or piece of driftwood.
- Tie it on with cotton thread or fishing line.
- Set it where a betta can rest near the surface.
- Remove the line once roots attach.
Tropica notes that the black spots under java fern leaves are sporangia, not disease.
Which Floating Live Plants for Betta Tanks Work Best?
Floating live plants for betta tanks give shade and surface cover. Tropica describes Amazon frogbit as a decorative floater with fine, long roots that protect surface fish, and says it grows slower when nutrients drop, making it a handy nutrient indicator. Water sprite can also float, and Tropica says it uses large amounts of nutrients.
- Leave open water at the surface so the betta can breathe air.
- Thin floaters when they cover more than about half the surface.
- Keep them away from strong filter flow.
Read more in our frogbit and hornwort guides.
Can Live Plants for Betta Tanks Grow Out of the Water?
Yes. Some live plants for betta tanks, like pothos and lucky bamboo, grow with their roots in the tank and leaves in room air. The roots take up nutrients from fish waste, much like a small aquaponics system. Keep leaves out of the water and make sure the betta cannot get trapped among dense roots.
Follow the setup in our guides to pothos in a fish tank and lucky bamboo in a fish tank.
Which Live Plants for Betta Tanks Should You Avoid?
Avoid hard, sharp or fast-rotting plants when choosing live plants for betta tanks. Long betta fins tear easily, so skip rough plastic plants and stiff, spiky leaves. Also avoid land plants sold as aquatic, which can rot underwater and pollute the tank. Choose true aquatic species from a reliable seller.
- Skip plastic plants with sharp edges.
- Avoid burying rhizomes of anubias or java fern.
- Remove melting leaves before they decay.
- Quarantine new plants to avoid snails and pesticides.
How Do You Keep Live Plants for Betta Tanks Healthy?
Keep live plants for betta tanks healthy with steady light, regular water changes and light feeding. Low-light plants like anubias and java fern need no CO2, and Tropica rates them low light. Trim floaters weekly, remove dead leaves and add a mild liquid fertilizer only if leaves pale. Overfeeding the betta feeds algae more than plants.
Do bettas like live plants?
Yes. A 2024 Animal Welfare study found male bettas swam more in containers enriched with live plants, rocks and gravel than in bare ones.
What is the easiest plant for a betta?
Anubias nana is one of the easiest. Tropica says it thrives in all conditions, including shade, and herbivorous fish do not eat it.
Do betta plants need fertilizer?
Slow plants like anubias and java fern often grow on fish waste alone. Fast floaters may need a mild liquid fertilizer if leaves turn pale.
How big should a planted betta tank be?
Oldfield and Murphy found at least a 2.6-gallon (10 L) tank was needed for full swimming behavior; larger tanks are easier to keep stable.
Can I keep a betta in a vase with a plant?
Researchers found bettas in small bowls swam less. A heated aquarium is better; see our note on the peace lily betta vase.
Sources
- Oldfield, R. G., & Murphy, E. M. (2024). Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens. Animal Welfare.
- Tropica Aquarium Plants. Anubias barteri var. nana/4545).
- Tropica Aquarium Plants. Microsorum pteropus/4408).
- Tropica Aquarium Plants. Limnobium laevigatum/4761).
- Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons, edited with titles): Female bettas in community tank by No machine-readable author provided. Epastore assumed (based on copyright claims (CC BY-SA 3.0); Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) growing in the wild. by Fhurzan (CC BY-SA 3.0); Limnobium laevigatum by Cardex (Public domain); Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) female orange by Bernard Ladenthin (CC BY 4.0)