Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm setting up a tank for my kid and wanna make sure the plants are easy to care for. What's the best options that can handle a bit of roughhousing and still look good?

Anubias and Java Fern are great starters. They're tough, don't need much light, and can handle some abuse. Just tie them to rocks or driftwood so they don't get uprooted.

I'd add Amazon Sword to that list. It's a bit bigger, so it can fill space, and it's pretty forgiving. Just make sure you've got a decent substrate for the roots.

Yep, those are all solid picks. My kid's tank has some Hornwort too. It grows like crazy and the fish love hiding in it. Plus, it's basically unkillable.

Don't forget about Moss Balls. They're super chill, just roll 'em around every now and then. Kids think they're fun to play with, and they're basically zero maintenance.

boltz wrote: ↑Sat Aug 09, 2025 9:30 am Anubias and Java Fern are great starters. They're tough, don't need much light, and can handle some abuse. Just tie them to rocks or driftwood so they don't get uprooted.

I'd second that. My kid's tank has both, and they've survived everything from toy dinosaurs to overfeeding.

If you want something colorful, try Ludwigia Repens. It's not as tough as the others, but with decent light, it'll turn red and add some pop to the tank.

Yeah, Moss Balls are a win. My niece loves hers. Just gotta squeeze 'em out during water changes, and they're good to go.

For a kid's tank, I'd stick to the basics. Anubias, Java Fern, and maybe some floating plants like Frogbit. They're all hardy and won't mind if the kid taps on the glass now and then.

I've had good luck with Cryptocoryne Wendtii in my kid's tank. It's not as flashy, but it's durable and doesn't need much attention.