Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) Care Guide
Limnobium laevigatum is a floating plant from tropical Americas with round leaves and trailing roots that shade tanks and absorb excess nutrients.
Overview
Limnobium laevigatum is a floating freshwater plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae, native to tropical and subtropical Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. It is one of the most commonly used floating plants in the hobby due to its compact rosettes, attractive trailing roots and ability to absorb excess nutrients from the water column.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hydrocharitaceae
- Genus: Limnobium
- Scientific name: Limnobium laevigatum
- Synonyms: Hydrocharis laevigata
- Common name: Amazon Frogbit, South American Spongeplant
Habitat
The species inhabits still or slowly moving freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical America. Underside of the leaves carries a spongy aerenchyma tissue that traps air and keeps the rosette afloat. Outside its native range it has become invasive in California, southern Europe, Australia and Japan.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 20-28 C (68-82 F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 dGH
- Lighting: low to medium (plant is at the surface)
- CO2: not required
- Surface flow: low — strong flow drowns the leaves
- Placement: floating
Growth and propagation
Growth is fast under sufficient nitrogen and iron. Propagation is asexual by stolons that produce daughter rosettes adjacent to the mother plant. Thinning the surface coverage every 1-2 weeks prevents shading of substrate plants and gas-exchange problems at the surface.
Placement and aquascaping
Used as a shade plant for fish that dislike bright light (Apistogramma, Bettas, Killifish) and as a refuge for fry. Long trailing roots can be used by shrimp as a grazing surface. Avoid letting wet droplets condense on the leaves — they cause rot.