Guppy grass
Najas guadalupensis
Guppy grass
- Popular Najas species
- Especially recommended for breeding tanks
- Needle-like leaves, long stems
- Fast growing
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Description
Najas guadalupensis, the Southern waternymph or "Guppy grass", has long been recognised as a very easy and fast-growing aquarium plant, also referred to as Najas microdon. It is native to North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, where it grows in lakes, rivers and canals. It is especially popular in breeding tanks for fish and invertebrates. In the past, it was mainly passed on privately and was rarely available commercially because its stems break easily, but in vitro plants can be sold without problems and are free from algae, parasites and diseases.
This plant forms dense bushes over 40 cm tall and wide, with many branched shoots and only a few fine roots. The stems can grow up to about one metre long but often break apart at the nodes. The leaves are olive green, slightly transparent, and about 1.5–3 cm long and 1–2 mm wide. Their edges have numerous microscopic teeth, and the midrib can sometimes look reddish.
"Guppy grass" is certainly one of the most undemanding aquarium plants. It grows in hard water, needs no added CO2, and does well in low light. It tolerates temperatures from 4 to 32 °C, with a broad optimal range of 20–30 °C. It can root in the substrate or float freely, for example in tanks without a bottom layer. It spreads easily because shoots break off and grow on their own. If nutrients are very low, the plant may look pale. With abundant CO2 and nutrient supply, it it becomes a deeper green but also grows very quickly, so it should be kept under control to avoid overgrowing the tank by drifting shoot fragments.
The Southern waternymph is ideal for aquariums where a natural, densely planted appearance is desired, especially in tanks with moderate light and no added CO2. As mentioned above, Najas guadalupensis is excellent as a natural refuge in breeding tanks, as its fine structure gives good shelter for fish fry and shrimp. It also helps improve water quality by taking up excess nutrients and producing oxygen. In vitro "Guppy grass" can be placed straight into the aquarium after rinsing off the culture medium, as it is free from unwanted organisms.
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